l/^n^l  ll^l'lMIII?lll,?,:,V,f,?,'Stii^'  SAN  DIEGO 


3  1822  02464  02 11 


BET  v,'EEN  THE  LINES 


SECRET  SERVICE 
STORIES 

'H'B'SinHS 


LIBRARY 

UNlVSRvtfY  OF 
CALIiDHMIA 

!     S4»N  d;ego 


J 


J  -      L 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  SAN  DIEGO 


z.  :> 


3  1822  02464  0211 


Social  Sciences  &  Humanities  Library 

University  of  California,  San  Diego 
Please  Note:  This  item  is  subject  to  recall. 


Date  Due 


CI  39  (5/97) 


UCSD  Lib. 


II.    1!.    SMITH. 


BETWEEN   THE  LINES 

Secret  Service  Stories 

Told  Fifty  Years  After 


By 
BVT.  MAJOR  H.  B.  SMITH 

Chief  of  Detectives  and  Assistant 

Provost    Marshal    General    with 

Major    General    Lew    Wallace 

Civil  War 


^ 


BOOZ   BROTHERS 

314   WEST   FIFTY-THIRD   STREET 
NEW  YORK 


Copyright,  iqh,  by 
HENRY  BASCOM  SMITH 


Press  of  J.  J.  I-ittle  &  Ives  Co. 
New  York 


DEDICATED 

TO 

SAMUEL   GRAHAM   BOOZ 

TO  WHOSE  PERSISTENCY  IN  THUMPING  OUT  ON 
HIS  TYPEWRITER  THE  WORDS  HEREIN  HAS 
RENDERED  IT  POSSIBLE  FOR  ME  TO  INFLICT 
MY  FIFTY-YEAR-OLD  STORIES   ON   MY   FRIENDS 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Apology ^7 

FILE  I 

The    Harry    Gilmer    Sword — General    Wallace's 

Comments 21 

FILE  II 

1861-1862  New  York  Harbor— Fort  Schuyler— Fort 
Marshal— Aunt  Mag 25 

FILE  III 

1862- 1863  Fort  McHenry — General  Morris — Colo- 
nel Peter  A.  Porter— Harper's  Ferry — Hall- 
town — Trip  to  Johnson's  Island — Lieutenant- 
General  Pemberton  and  other  Confederate 
Officers  —  Ohio  Copperheads  —  Incident  of 
York,  Pa.,  Copperheads — Dramatic  incident 
on  July  4th,  1863,  at  Fort  McHenry   ...     30 

FILE  IV 

A  taste  of  the  Draft  Riots,  July  13th,  1863,  when 
conveying  wounded  Confederates  from  Gettys- 

5' 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

burg  to  David's  Island,  New  York  Harbor — 
Governor  Seymour's  questionable  conduct — 
A  mysterious  Mr.  Andrews  of  Virginia — 
"Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle" — "Sons  of 
Liberty"  and  a  North  Western  Confederacy — 
Uncle  Burdette — The  Laurel  incident  •      •      •     37 

FILE  V 

Appointed  Assistant  Provost  Marshal  at  Fort  Mc- 
Henry,  where  I  began  my  first  experience  in 
detective  work — Somewhat  a  history  of  my 
early  life — Ordered  to  execute  Gordon  by 
shooting 50 

FILE  VI 

Detective  work  required  an  extension  of  territory 
— A  flattering  endorsement  by  Colonel  Porter 
— Introducing  Christian  Emmerich  and  inci- 
dentally Charles  E.  Langley,  a  noted  Confed- 
erate  spy 57 

FILE  VII 

Investigator's  education — I  branded  E.  W.  An- 
drews, adjutant-general  to  General  Morris,  a 
traitor  to  the  Colors 63 

FILE  VIII 

Initial  trip  down  Chesapeake  Bay  after  blockade 
runners    and    contraband   dealers    and    goods, 

6 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

incidentally  introducing  Terrence  R-  Quinn, 
George  G.  Nellis  and  E.  W.  Andrews,  Jr.— 
A  description  of  a  storm  on  the  Chesapeake     66 

FILE  IX 

General  Wallace  assumes  command  of  the  Middle 
Department — General  Schenck's  comments  on 
Maryland — Colonel  Woolley 79 

FILE  X 

Here  begins  my  service  as  an  Assistant  Provost 
Marshal  of  the  Department  and  Chief  of  the 
Secret  Service — Confederate  General  Win- 
der's detectives — E.  H.  Smith,  special  officer, 
War  Department — Mrs.  Mary  E.  Sawyer, 
Confederate  mail  carrier— W.  V.  Kremer's 
report  on  the  "Disloyals"  north  of  Baltimore     83 

FILE  XI 

Mrs.  Key  Howard,  a  lineal  descendant  of  the 
author  of  "The  Star  Spangled  Banner,"  for- 
getting her  honor,  prepared  to  carry  a  Con- 
federate mail  to  "Dixie"— Miss  Martha  Dun- 
gan — Trip  on  the  steam  tug  "Ella" — Schooner 
"W.  H.  Travers"  and  cargo  captured — James 
A.  Winn,  a  spy— Trip  to  Frederick,  Maryland     92 

FILE  XII 

F.  M.  Ellis,  Chief  Detective  U.  S.  Sanitary  Com- 
missiv  i — Arrest  of  W.  W.  Shore,  of  the  New 
York  'World" — John  Gillock  from  Richmond  100 

7 


CONTENTS 
FILE  XIII 

PAGE 

Ordered  to  seize  all  copies  of  the  New  York 
"World,"  bringing  in  one  of  the  great  war 
episodes,  the  Bogus  Presidential  Proclamation 
— Governor  Seymour's  queer  vigor  appears    .    103 

FILE  XIV 

Arrest  of  F.  W.  Farlin  and  A.  H.  Covert— The 
Pulpit  not  loyal,  reports  on  Rev.  Mr.  Harri- 
son and  Rev.  Mr.  Poisal — Comical  reports  on 
a  religious  conference  and  a  camp  meeting — 
Seizure  of  Kelly  &  Piet  store  with  its  contra- 
band kindergarten  contents — Sloop  "R.  B. 
Tennis"  one  of  my  fleet,  and  an  account  of  a 
capture  of  tobacco,  etc.— Arrest  of  Frederick 
Smith,  Powell  Harrison  and  Robert  Alexander 
— Harry  Brogden 109 

FILE  XV 

General  pass  for  Schooner  "W.  H.  Travers"— 
Trip  down  the  Bay  after  blockade  runners  and 
mail  carriers — Gillock  and  Lewis,  two  of  my 
officers  captured  by  Union  pickets— Commo- 
dore Foxhall  A.  Parker— Potomac  flotilla- 
Arrest  of  J.  B.  McWilliams— My  watch  gone 
to  the  mermaids — The  ignorance  of  "poor 
white  trash 121 

FILE  XVI 

Captain   Bailey  makes  a   capture— Sinclair  intro- 
duces me  (as  Shaffer)  to  Mr.  Pyle  ....    132 
8 


CONTENTS 
FILE  XVII 

PAGE 

A  Confederate  letter 136 

FILE  XVIII 

Confederate  army  invades  Maryland  in  1864 — 
General  Wallace's  masterly  defence  of  Wash- 
ington— Trip  outside  our  pickets — Confederate 
General  Bradley  Johnson  and  Colonel  Harry 
Gilmor — The  Ishmael  Day  episode — Uncle  Zoe 
— Arrest  of  Judge  Richard  Grason — Report 
•   on  certain  "Disloyals" 138 

FILE  XIX 

Trip   to    New   York    regarding   one    Thomas    H. 

Gordon 149 

FILE  XX 

Thomas  Bennett,  a  U.  S.  mail  carrier,  disloyal — 
Samuel  Miles,  a  prominent  Baltimore  mer- 
chant, a  blockade  runner — A  laughable  letter 
about  an  overdraft  of  whiskey — Dr.  E.  Pow- 
ell, of   Richmond 151 

FILE  XXI 
Terrence  R.  Quinn 155 

FILE  XXII 

The  Great  Fraud  attempted  in  the  Presidential 
Election  of  1864,  wherein  the  misplacing  of  a 

9 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

single  letter  led  to  its  detection  and  may  be 
said  to  have  saved  our  Nation  from  disrup- 
tion— Involving  Governor  Seymour  and  Adju- 
tant General  Andrews— Arrest  of  Ferry, 
Donohue  and  Newcomb,  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful  kidnappings   on  record 159 


FILE  XXIII 

John  Deegan,  a  forger,  captured — A  report  that 
led  to  a  historic  raid  by  Colonel  Baker  on  the 
Bounty  Jumpers  and  Bounty  Brokers  of  New 
York 175 

FILE  XXIV 

General  Wallace's  letter  to  Secretary  of  War, 
Charles  A.  Dana  (afterwards  editor  of  the 
New  York  "Sun")  asking  for  an  extension  of 
territory  for  my  work,  incidentally  introduc- 
ing Colonel  John  S.  Mosby,  giving  a  list  of 
his  men  and  their  home  addresses — A  train 
robbery,  paymasters  robbed — I  recapture  part 
of  the  money — Commissions  in  promotion  de- 
clined         184 

FILE  XXV 

Capture  of  Confederate  bonds  and  scrip — Arrest 
of  Pittman,  Brewer  and  Fowler;  Lieut.  Smith, 
alias  I.  K.  Shaffer,  alias  George  Comings, 
led  them,  victims,  into  a  maze,  to  their  un- 
doing         193 

10 


CONTENTS 
FILE  XXVI 

PAGE 

Arrest  of  T.  A.  Menzier  and  expose  of  a  promi- 
nent railroad  official — Arrest  of  Barton  R. 
Zantzinger,  .involving  Milnor  Jones — Arrest 
of  John  Henry  Skinner  Quinn,  alias  J.  Y. 
Plater,  alias  Simpson,  a  spy — Arrest  of  E.  R. 
Rich,  a  spy 200 

FILE  XXVII 

Statement  of  Illinois  Crothers,  giving  valuable  and 
reliable  information,  implicating  Mr.  William 
Mitchell  and  a  Mrs.  Keenan  of  Winchester, 
Virginia — Report  on  Daniel  W.  Jones,  and 
Joseph  Bratton — Am  given  unlimited  access  to 
prisoners  in  Baltimore  City  jail 205 

FILE  XXVIII 

Statements  of  Jeremiah  Artis,  a  real  deserter 
from  the  Confederates — William  J.  Bradley, 
an  honest  refugee — -Charles  E.  Langley,  an 
official  Confederate  spy — Langley  personating 
a  correspondent  of  the  "New  York  Tribune," 
was  a  most  successful  and  dangerous  spy    .  210 

FILE  XXIX 

Patrick  Scally.  an  honest  deserter  from  the  Con- 
federate service — A  sketch  of  the  defences  of 
Richmond 222 

II 


CONTENTS 
FILE  XXX 

PAGE 

Confederate  Colonel  Harry  Gilmor,  the  raider, 
telling  how  he  did  not  "come  back"  as  a  con- 
quering hero ;  of  the  sword  he  never  re- 
ceived ;  of  his  capture,  etc. — The  arrest  and 
conviction  of  the  fair  donor 227 

FILE  XXXI 

Steam  tug  "Grace  Titus" — Statement  of  George 
Carlton,  containing  valuable  confirmatory  in- 
formation       236 

FILE  XXXII 

The  pungy  "Trifle"  (one  of  the  captures) — Colo- 
nel McPhail — Major  Blumenberg  and  his  cor- 
rupted office — "Boney"  Lee,  Bob  Miller,  and 
other  thugs 243 

FILE  XXXIII 

Statement   of  James    Briers,   Bollman,   McGuarty 

and  Welsh — United  States  marine  corps  .      .   246 

FILE  XXXIV 

General  W.  W.  Morris  in  command  in  General 
Wallace's  absence — General  Sheridan's  order 
to   arrest  E.  W.   Andrews,   formerly   adjutant 

general  to  General  Morris 250 

T2 


CONTENTS 
FILE  XXXV 

PAGE 

Ordered  to  New  York — Interviewed  Secretary  of 
War  Stanton  relative  to  an  independent  com- 
mand and  extension  of  our  territory — Major 
Wiegel's  weakness  exposed 252 

FILE  XXXVI 

Paine,  who  was  afterwards  one  of  the  conspira- 
tors in  the  assassinators'  plot,  in  my  custody 
— Miss  Branson  appeared  to  plead  for  him — 
Paine  released  on  parole,  lacking  evidence  to 
prove   him   a   spy 255 

FILE  XXXVII 

Missionary  E.  Martin,  an  agent  of  the  Confederate 
Treasury  Department,  arrested,  his  big  tobacco 
smuggling  scheme  exposed — Kidnapped  him 
from  General  Dix's  department — Manahan  in- 
volved       259 


FILE  XXXVIII 

Secretary  of  War  consulted  about  the  extension 
of  our  territory  to  include  the  district  be- 
tween the  Rappahannock  and  the  Potomac 
Rivers — Robert  Loudan.  alias  Charles  Veal,  a 
boat-burner  and  spy — A  kidnapped  colored 
boy 271 

13 


CONTENTS 
FILE  XXXIX 

PAGE 

The  chase  after  the  steamer  "Harriet  Deford," 
which  was  captured  by  pirates,  supposedly  to 
supply  a  means  of  escape  to  Jefferson  Davis 
from  the  crumbling  Confederacy — Captain 
Fitzhugh 275 

FILE  XL 

Ordered  to  Northern  Neck  of  Virginia  the  day 
before  President  Lincoln's  assassination — 
Martin  Van  Buren  Morgan's  statement,  and 
order  for  his  disposal 281 

FILE  XLI 

[  am  introduced  to  General  Grant — The  assassi- 
nation— Capture  of  Samuel  B.  Arnold,  one  of 
the  conspirators,  sent  to  Dry  Tortugas — Ar- 
rested the  Bransons  and  their  household,  un- 
covering Paine's  pedigree ;  thereafter  he  was 
Lewis  Paine  Powell — Paine  had  my  parole 
on  his  person  when  arrested — Paine  hung    .   290 

FILE  XLII 

Richmond  had  fallen — Class  of  detective  work  en- 
tirely changed  —  Counterfeiters  —  Secretary 
McCullogh — Go  to  steamboat  of  the  Leary 
Line  and  capture  a  youthful  murderer — Ar- 
rest of  Mrs.  Beverly  Tucker 312 

14 


CONTENTS 
FILE  XLIII 

PAGE 

Camp  Carroll  rioting — Troops  being  mustered  out  317 

FILE  XLIV 

Indicted  for  assault  with  intent  to  kill,  the  only 
clash  between  the  Military  and  Civil  Authori- 
ties during  General   Wallace's  administration  2i^2 

FILE  XLV 

Trip  to  Norfolk  and  Richmond — Ralph  Abercrom- 

bie — Miss  Elizabeth  L.  Van  Lew    ....   324 

FILE  XLVI 

My  muster  out — Reemployment  as  a  civilian — Or- 
dered to  Philadelphia — Twice  ordered  to 
Washington  with  horse-thieves 327 

FILE  XLVII 

Captain  Beckwith  convicted — Gambling — Order  to 

take  Beckwith  to  Albany  penitentiary  .      .      .331 

FILE  XLVIII 

Trip  to  Carlisle,  Illinois,  to  unravel  a  fraudulent 

claim— John  H.   Ing 335 

FILE  XLIX 

Brevetted  major— Governor   Fenton's  letter    .      .   342 

15 


APOLOGY. 

Fifty  years  ago!  Gracious  me!  It  makes  me 
think  of  my  age  to  talk  of  it.  Yes,  just  fifty  years 
ago  was  enacted  the  greatest  tragedy  the  world 
ever  saw,  THE  CIVIL  WAR. 

I  entered  the  service  at  twenty  and  one-half  years 
of  age  and  served  three  and  one-half  years. 

At  different  times  I  have  told  of  some  of  my 
experiences,  which  seemed  to  interest.  Sometimes 
I  have  talked  to  literary  men,  story  writers,  who 
have  expressed  a  desire  to  write  me  up  in  maga- 
zines and  newspapers,  but  lack  of  the  romantic  in 
my  make  up,  notwithstanding  romance  might  be 
seen  in  the  stories  which  to  me  were  but  cold  facts, 
has  kept  me  from  consenting. 

I  am  actuated  now  by  other  reasons.  I  have 
a  lot  of  documents  and  memoranda  that  are  wear- 
ing out,  liable  to  be  mislaid  or  lost.  In  fact  I 
have  already  lost  one  document,  a  letter  from  Gen- 
eral Lew  Wallace,  a  very  valuable  and  important 
one  (to  me)  ;  it  was  his  letter  of  presentation  to 
me  of  the  Harry  Gilmor  sword,  written  on  the 
eve  of  his  departure  for  Texas  (on  a  secret  mission, 
known  only  to  Lincoln  and  Grant),  to  receive  the 

17 


APOLOGY 

capitulation  of  the  Confederate  General  Slaughter, 
hence  I  feel  that  these  matters  ought  to  be  recorded 
somewhere. 

The  New  York  Historical  Society  and  Columbia 
University  have  offered  some  of  these  documents 
place  in  their  archives.  The  affidavit  and  signature 
of  Paine,  the  Conspirator  who  attempted  to  as- 
sassinate Secretary  Seward,  ought  to  be  in  some 
substantial  depository  as  a  link  in  history.  I  pre- 
sume it  is  the  only  finger  mark  extant  of  any  of 
the  conspirators.  The  reason  why  I  have  not  de- 
posited it  is  that  the  statement  appears  garbled, 
requiring  me  to  explain  the  gaps  and  hidden  mean- 
ings between  the  lines,  which  I  shall  try  to  do  in 
these  pages. 

Another  motive  for  putting  these  experiences  in 
writing,  is  in  the  interest  of  Graham,  and  his  chil- 
dren, Curtis,  Evelyn  and  her  children,  Nettie  and 
DeLos.  It  is  to  be  expected  these  younger  ones 
will  remain  longer  here  under  the  old  Flag,  and  per- 
haps they  may  get  some  consolation  from  the  fact 
that  some  of  their  ancestors  did  something  in  sim- 
ple patriotism.  Nettie  has  complained  that  her 
school  history  did  not  mention  her  uncle.  I  told 
her  I  could  only  be  found  by  reading  "between  the 
lines,"  because  there  were  so  many  "pebbles  on  the 
beach"  besides  her  uncle. 

But  how  can  I  make  it  interesting?  I  am  afraid 
I  shall  injure  the  facts  in  trying  to  write  them.    A 

i8 


APOLOGY 

story  writer  might  make  a  romance  out  of  almost 
any  one  of  my  stories,  for  he  would  dress  it  up  so. 
Every  day  and  hour  of  my  Secret  Service  expe- 
rience was  crowded  with  events ;  they  came  swift 
one  after  another ;  for  instance  the  Election  Fraud 
case  of  1864  to  which  Appleton's  Encyclopedia  de- 
votes columns,  took  less  than  five  days  to  develop ; 
the  story  would  take  nearly  as  long  to  tell. 


19 


BETWEEN  THE  LINES 

SECRET  SERVICE  STORIES 

FILE  I. 

The   Harry    Gilmor    sword — General   Wallace's   com- 
ments. 

The  sword  of  Harry  Gilmor,  the  Confederate 
colonel,  which  General  Wallace  had  given  me,  had 
aroused  Graham's  interest  so  much  that  I  presented 
it  to  him ;  I  had,  prior  to  this,  presented  to  Curtis, 
my  Creedmoor  rifle  trophies.  I  had  become  tired 
of  telling  the  history  of  that  sword  and  how  it 
came  into  my  possession,  having  no  other  evidence 
than  my  word  for  the  truth  of  the  story,  since  I 
had  lost  General  Wallace's  letter.  However,  quite 
unexpectedly,  the  story  was  revived  in  the  follow- 
ing manner : 

Evelyn,  who  was  but  a  baby  in  those  days,  re- 
membering that  I  was  with  General  Wallace,  on 
Christmas  day,  1908,  presented  me  with  his  Auto- 
biography (two  volumes)  much  to  my  delight.  A 
21 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

few  days  later  Aunt  Mag,  glancing  through  the 
second  volume,  discovered  that  I  was  remembered 
by  the  General  and  the  sword  incident  was  there 
officially  described,  so  that  now  the  sword  is  really 
vouched  for  in  history,  for  Wallace's  volumes  will 
be  in  every  important  library  in  the  world. 

I  quote  from  General  Lew  Wallace's  Autobiog- 
raphy, page  687  and  on : 

"From  what  has  been  said,  it  would  seem 
my  friend,  General  Schenck,  had  found  a  dis- 
turbing element  in  the  Secession  ladies  of 
Baltimore,  and  in  some  way  suffered  from  it. 
His  description  of  them,  and  the  emphasis 
with  which  he  had  dwelt  upon  their  remark- 
able talent  for  mischief  in  general,  I  accepted 
as  a  warning,  and  stood  upon  my  guard. 

"Every  one  into  whose  hands  these  me- 
moirs may  fall  will  see  almost  of  his  own  sug- 
gestion how  necessary  it  was  that,  of  the  in- 
habitants of  the  city,  I  should  know  who  were 
disloyal  with  more  certainty  even  than  who 
were  loyal ;  of  the  latter  there  was  nothing  to 
fear,  while  of  the  former  there  was  at  least 
everything  to  suspect.  We  knew  communica- 
tion with  the  enemy  across  the  line  was  un- 
ceasing; that  interchange  of  news  between 
Richmond  and  Baltimore  was  of  daily  occur- 
rence ;  that  there  were  routes,  invisible  to  us, 
by  which  traffic  in  articles  contraband  of  war 
was  carried  on  with  singular  success,  almost 
22 


THE   HARRY   GILAIOR   SWORD 

as  a  legitimate  commerce — routes  by  water  as 
well  as  by  land.  General  Butler,  at  Norfolk, 
exerted  himself  to  discover  the  traders  oper- 
ating by  way  of  the  Chesapeake  Bay,  but 
without  success ;  with  a  like  result  I  tried  to 
unearth  the  landward  lines. 

"Captain  Smith,  my  chief  of  detectives,  a 
man  of  ability  and  ::eal,  at  last  brought  me 
proof  incontestable  that  Baltimore  was  but  a 
way-side  station  of  the  nefarious  commerce, 
the  initial  points  of  active  transaction  center- 
ing in  Philadelphia. 

"As  to  Baltimore,  this  simplified  our  task, 
and  shortly  General  Schenck's  sagacity  was 
again  vindicated — those  working  in  the  pro- 
hibited business  were  ladies  who  moved  in 
the  upper  circles  of  society. 

"Should  I  arrest  the  fair  sympathizers? 
What  was  the  use?  The  simple  appearance 
of  distress  was  enough  with  the  President; 
and  if  that  were  so  with  a  man  in  concern- 
ment, what  would  it  be  with  a  woman  ?  In 
sight  of  the  hopelessness  of  effort  on  my  part, 
over  and  over,  again  and  again,  in  the  night 
often  as  in  the  day,  I  took  counsel  of  myself, 
'What  can  be  done?'  At  last  an  answer 
came  to  me,  and  in  a  way  no  one  could  have 
dreamed — the  purest  chance. 

"A  woman  in  high  standing  socially, 
alighted  from  a  carriage  at  the  Camden  sta- 
tion of  the   Baltimore    and    Ohio    Railroad, 

23 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

carrying  a  mysterious-looking-  box.  At  the 
moment  she  was  stepping  into  a  car  my  chief 
of  detectives  arrested  her.  The  box  being 
opened,  there,  in  velvet  housings,  lay  a  sword 
of  costly  pattern  inscribed  for  presentation  to 
Colonel  .  .  .,  a  guerilla  officer  of  Confeder- 
ate renown. 

"A  commission  was  immediately  ordered 
for  the  woman's  trial.  The  word  and  the  in- 
scription upon  it  were  irrefutable  proofs  of 
guilt,  and  she  was  sent  to  a  prison  for  fe- 
males in  Massachusetts.  The  afifair  was  in- 
excusably gross,  considering  the  condition  of 
war — so  much,  I  think,  will  be  generally  con- 
ceded— still,  seeking  the  moral  effect  of  pun- 
ishment alone,  I  specially  requested  the 
officials  of  the  institution  not  to  subject  the 
offender  to  humiliation  beyond  the  mere  im- 
prisonment. In  a  few  days  she  was  released 
and  brought  home.  The  szvord  I  presented  to 
Captain  Smith." 

General  Wallace  makes  a  slight  error.  I  did 
not  arrest  the  woman  at  the  station,  but  captured 
her  messenger  with  the  sword,  and  upon  his  person 
were  credentials  to  Gilnior,  which  I  used  myself, 
and  of  which  I  will  tell  later  on.  Later  on  I  ar- 
rested the  woman  herself. 


24 


FILE  II. 

1861-1862    New   York    Harbor— Fort    Schuyler— Fort 
Marshal — Aunt  Mag. 

During  the  first  year  of  the  war  ('61)  I  remained 
at  home,  but  I  was  really  ashamed  to  be  found 
there  when  service  called.  Burdette  was  already 
in  the  Army,  and  A.  P.,  though  equally  patriotic, 
was  compelled  to  remain  home  to  "fight  for  bread" 
for  the  family.  I  started  to  go  but  mother  re- 
strained me;  finally,  however,  Olive  persuaded 
mother  to  consent,  and  on  January  loth,  1862,  I 
began  my  service  as  2d  Lieutenant  in  the  5th  N.  Y. 
Heavy  Artillery.  In  the  early  part  of  '62  our  Regi- 
ment garrisoned  the  forts  of  New  York  Harbor. 
I  was  stationed  first  at  Fort  Wood  (Bedloe's  Is- 
land), and  afterwards  at  Fort  Schuyler,  where  I 
was  Post  Adjutant. 

Fort  Schuyler  is  a  very  extensive  fortification 
guarding  the  entrance  to  New  York  from  the  east, 
situated  on  a  peninsula  called  Throggs  Neck,  where 
there  is  an  abrupt  turn  from  the  waters  of  the  East 
River  as  it  enters  Long  Island  Sound ;  the  channel 
is  quite  narrow  at  that  point.  The  fortification  com- 
prises two  tiers  of  casemates  surmounted  by  a  para- 

25 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

pet,  and  on  the  landward  side  barbette  batteries.  A 
first-class  formidable  defence  for  the  arms  of  those 
days.  The  interior  of  Fort  Schuyler  was  large 
enough  to  enable  a  battalion  to  form  in  line.  At 
that  time  there  was  under  construction  on  the  oppo- 
site, or  Long  Island,  shore,  on  Willet's  Point,  a 
fortification  which  has  since  been  completed  and  is 
called  Fort  Totten. 

In  May,  '62,  we  were  withdrawn  from  the  forts 
in  New  York  Harbor.  We  were  ordered  to  the 
front,  to  join  the  army  at  Fortress  Monroe,  Vir- 
ginia. We  were  assembled,  taken  by  steamers  to 
Amboy,  thence  by  the  old  Camden  and  Amboy  Rail- 
road to  Camden  and  Philadelphia,  thence  by  tlie 
Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Railroad 
to  Baltimore.  We  were  handsomely  treated  to  a 
meal  in  the  "Soldiers'  Rest"  in  Philadelphia,  by  the 
patriotic  ladies.  God  bless  them !  We  were  trans- 
ported in  box  freight  cars,  rough  board  benches  for 
seats.     No  drawing-room  cars  in  those  days. 

On  arriving  in  Baltimore  we  were  loaded  upon  a 
steamer  for  Fortress  Monroe.  At  this  point  our 
orders  were  changed.  Being  a  heavy  artillery  regi- 
ment, we  were  ordered  to  garrison  Fort  Marshal 
(near  Baltimore),  relieving  the  3d  Delaware,  an 
infantry  regiment.  We  were  marched  through  the 
city  to  Fort  Marshal.  Later  we  learned  that  the 
Baltimoreans  dubbed  us  the  "toughest"  they  had 
seen.  Our  appearance  was  misleading,  we  thought. 
26 


i86i-i862  NEW  YORK  HARBOR 

Fort  Marshal  was  an  earth  work,  a  parapet  with 
bastions,  erected  on  an  eminence  just  east  of  Balti- 
more, commanding  the  harbor  and  the  city.  It 
has  since  been  demolished,  crowded  out  by  com- 
merce and  residences. 

When  we  arrived  at  the  fort  our  men  were  hun- 
gry, having  had  but  "one  square  meal"  in  forty- 
eight  hours — the  one  the  Philadelphia  ladies  had 
given  us,  plus  what  was  picked  up  from  pie  ped- 
dlers on  the  way.  We  learned  the  lesson  all  green 
troops  must  learn,  when  inefficiency  of  the  commis- 
sary is  shown.  I  volunteered  to  get  feed  for  the 
men  ;  the  Colonel  accepted  my  tender.  I  went  down 
to  the  city  limits,  pressed  three  wagons  (those  deep 
box-wagons  in  use  in  Baltimore)  into  service,  drove 
to  the  Quartermaster's  Department  in  South  Gay 
Street,  represented  myself  as  Acting  Quartermaster 
(which  was  a  little  out  of  "plumb"  but  excusable  by 
the  emergency)  and  drew  three  wagon  loads  of 
aerated  bread  and  coffee,  drove  back  to  camp, 
turned  the  kettles  up  and  had  the  men  banqueting 
inside  of  two  hours.  Inefficiency  was  surely  our 
Commissary's  right  name. 

At  this  point  I  want  to  tell  something  about  Aunt 
Mag,  my  "Star  in  the  East,"  who  has  ever  since 
guided  me. 

Union  people  and  the  Star  Spangled  Banner  were 
not  so  plenty  in  Maryland.  Not  far  from  Fort 
Marshal  I  espied  a  cheerful  looking  house.     In  its 

27 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

yard  from  a  flagstaff  was  unfurled  our  glorious  em- 
blem. That  was  the  house  of  Aunt  Mag.  I  fell  in 
love  with  the  premises,  and  very  soon  with  its  oc- 
cupant. Later  on  I  was  stricken  down  with  that 
dreadful  army  plague,  typhoid  fever,  and  I  was 
very  near  to  death.  That  house  was  my  hospital, 
and  Aunt  Mag  was  my  nurse.  I  lived,  and  so  here 
we  are  after  fifty  years.  Many  friends  have  re- 
marked, how  romantic!  but  we  say  it  is  just  love. 
If  the  "Over-ruling  Hand"  was  not  in  it,  it  cer- 
tainly has  proven  a  fortunate  "happen  so"  for  our 
lives  have  so  nicely  matched  in  the  "pinions"  as  to 
have  needed  no  other  lubrication  than  love  for  all 
these  years. 

The  house  referred  to  was  the  home  of  Thomas 
Booz  (the  father  of  Graham  and  Curtis).  He  was 
a  real  "19th  of  April"  Union  man;  and  on  that 
eventful  day  he  defended  his  premises  with  a  gun. 
He  was  of  the  firm  of  Thos.  Booz  &  Brother,  ship- 
builders ;  also  he  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature, 
and  was  talked  of  for  Governor.  Their  firm  built 
the  pontoons  that  McClellan  used  to  recross  the 
Potomac  at  Harper's  Ferry  in  1862,  after  Antietam ; 
they  also  built  one  of  the  first  turreted  monitors 
(the  Waxsaw),  patterned  after  Ericsson's  Monitor 
which  fought  the  battle  with  the  Merrimac. 

What  do  I  mean  by  an  "April  19th"  Union  man? 
Well,  I  will  tell  you:  On  that  day  was  shed  the 
first  blood  of  the  war.  A  mob  attacked  the  6th 
28 


FORT  SCHU\XER— FORT  MARSHAL 

Massachusetts  Regiment  in  Pratt  Street,  as  it  was 
proceeding  to  Washington  (April  19th,  1861). 
Like  magic  all  Marylanders  took  sides,  one  part 
for  the  Union,  the  other  for  Rebellion.  Ever  after 
the  prime  question  or  test  of  loyalty  was,  how  did 
you  stand  on  April  19th?  A  Union  man  on  that 
day  was  ever  after  one.  Families  were  divided. 
It  cost  a  deal  to  be  a  Union  man  there  or  in  any 
of  the  border  States.  I  have  often  thought  they 
deserved  as  much  consideration  as  those  who 
fought  battles. 

In  August,  1862,  two  companies,  A  and  F,  of  our 
Regiment  were  detailed  to  go  to  Harper's  Ferry  to 
man  batteries  there.  There  being  a  vacancy  in  the 
line  (in  Co.  A)  I  requested  to  be  detailed  to  it,  but 
my  superior  objected,  claiming  I  was  necessary  with 
my  own  company.  I  was  not  permitted  to  go.  Had 
I  gone  I  would  have  been  in  that  fight  and  would 
have  been  in  the  Colonel  Miles  surrender,  along 
with  Joe  Barker  and  the  rest.  Joe's  story  of  spik- 
ing the  guns  of  The  Naval  Battery  on  Maryland 
Heights,  preparatory  to  surrender  was  always  in- 
teresting. His  story  of  the  four  days'  fighting,  sus- 
tained as  it  is  by  Confederate  documents,  makes  new 
history.  He  makes  it  quite  plain  that  the  detention 
of  the  enemy  there  saved  us  Antietam  and  perhaps 
Washington. 


29 


FILE  III. 

Fort  McHenry  in  1862-1863 — General  Morris — Colonel 
Peter  A.  Porter — Harper's  Ferry — Halltown — 
Trip  to  Johnson's  Island — Lieutcnant-General 
Pemberton  and  other  Confederate  Officers — Ohio 
Copperheads — Incident  of  York,  Pa.  Copperheads — 
Dramatic  incident  on  July  4th,  1863,  at  Fort  Mc- 
Henry. 

In  the  winter  of  '62-'63  our  Regiment  was  re- 
moved to  Fort  McHenry,  where  Confederate  pris- 
oners of  war  were  detained.  General  W.  W.  Mor- 
ris, an  old  regular,  commanded  the  Brigade  (Head- 
quarters were  there)  and  Colonel  Peter  A.  Porter 
(whose  monument  is  at  Goat  Island,  Niagara  Falls) 
commanded  the  Post.  We  were  carrying  there 
about  one  thousand  Confederate  and  political  pris- 
oners. A  large  percentage  of  them  were  commis- 
sioned officers. 

Early  in  '63  our  Regiment  was  ordered  to  the 
front  by  way  of  Harper's  Ferry.  When  we  arrived 
at  the  Ferry  I  was  the  first  officer  detailed  for  a 
two-days'  turn  of  picket  duty  on  Bolivar  Heights. 

Harper's  Ferry  is  situated  at  the  confluence  of 
the  Potomac  and  Shenandoah  rivers.  The  Potomac 
cuts  through  the  Blue  Ridge  Mountains  there.   The 

30 


LIEUTENANT    JOSKl'II    II.     (JOE)     liAI^KER. 


FORT    McHENRY    IN    1862-1863 

Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal  runs  along  the  north 
bank  of  the  Potomac,  rugged  mountains  enclose  it, 
presenting  an  alpine  appearance.  Here  the  "Jo^" 
Brown  raid"  began.  It  was  formerly  the  location 
of  one  of  the  great  national  arsenals.  When  en- 
camped there  in  '63  the  Regiment  was  in  tents  on 
Camp  Hill;  the  officers  were  quartered  in  a  build- 
ing which  had  been  the  home  of  the  officers  of  the 
arsenal. 

Our  Regiment,  nominally  a  heavy  artillery  regi- 
ment, was  thoroughly  schooled  in  the  heavy  tactics 
and  also  as  light  or  field  artillery  and  infantry; 
able  or  qualified  to  be  used  in  either  arm  of  the 
service  with  equal  facility.  The  order  to  proceed, 
to  the  front  was  hailed  with  delight,  duty  in  the 
field  being  a  panacea  for  garrison  bickerings. 

Later  the  regiment  was  moved  to  Halltown,  en- 
camped on  the  Miller  farm,  and  threw  out  pickets. 
I  was  on  first  detail  there.  I  learned  how  to  get 
a  fair  sleep  on  top  of  a  "herring-bone"  rail  fence. 
My  proclivity  for  "prying  into  things"  manifested 
itself  there.  An  attack  was  expected,  so  our  regi- 
ment slept  on  arms,  anxiously  waiting;  it  became 
tedious.  I  asked  permission  to  reconnoitre  alone, 
and  was  permitted.  In  the  dark  I  sneaked  out 
about  a  mile,  and  listened;  three  or  four  cavalry- 
men came  wdiirling  down  the  road  as  if  riding  for 
life;  they  roused  the  regiment.  They  were  blood 
stained,  but  upon  examination  the  blood  was  found 

31 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

to  have  come  from  one  of  their  own  horses.  Such 
scares  and  mistakes  were  frequent,  especially  with 
fresh  troops.  I  was  in  a  dilemma  to  get  back  into 
line  without  being  shot,  but  it  was  accomplished. 
The  regiment  was  ordered  back  to  Baltimore  for 
garrison  duty. 

I  was  detailed  to  convey  prisoners  away  many 
times.  Once  I  took  ninety  odd  Confederate  officers 
to  Johnson's  Island,  Sandusky,  Ohio.  Among  them 
was  Lieutenant  General  Pemberton,  who  had  com- 
manded at  Vicksburg,  and  who  had,  on  July  4th, 
surrendered  Vicksburg  with  thirty-seven  thousand 
men,  fifteen  general  officers  and  sixty  thousand 
stand  of  arms.  I  was  surprised  at  the  great  num- 
ber of  "Copperheads"  we  met  in  crossing  Ohio. 
My  exhibition  of  Confederate  prisoners  was  treated 
as  a  first-class  circus ;  it  "drew"  the  "Copperheads" 
and  they  flocked  to  the  stations  along  the  route  to 
express  sympathy  and  admiration.  What  was  a 
"Copperhead"?  I  will  try  to  tell  you:  he  stood, 
relatively,  as  the  Tories  to  the  Revolution.  They 
were  composed  of  several  elements ;  some  were  so 
greedy  of  gain  they  wanted  no  war  that  might  in- 
terfere with  their  finances;  some  were  too  cow- 
ardly ;  some  were  too  partisan  politically,  really 
thinking  their  fealty  was  due  to  those  who  were 
fighting  against  an  administration  nominally  repre- 
senting an  opposing  political  party ;  all  of  them 
forming  a  mass  to  be   influenced  by  conspirators 

32 


COLONEL  PETER  A.  PORTER 

who  were  pursuing  an  intelligent  purpose  to  de- 
stroy the  Union;  just  such  material  as  was  needed 
by  Vallandigham,  Seymour,  Andrews,  Morgan  and 
Lee  to  help  their  projects  of  further  disruption. 
What  became  of  them?  They  sank  out  of  sight 
when  the  Confederate  cause  was  lost.  Naturally 
they  were  scorned  by  the  men  who  had  fought  for 
the  L'^nion.  As  time  goes  on,  they  and  their  work 
is  being  forgotten..  Future  historians  may  be 
more  kind  to  them  than  we  who  suffered  because 
of  them,  but  it  is  not  likely  that  the  descendants 
of  any  Copperhead  will  claim  public  honors  for 
their  anti-Union  forbears. 

I  am  reminded  of  an  incident  that  was  told 
widely  through  the  armies:  When  Lee's  army 
reached  York,  Pa.,  on  the  way  to  Gettysburg,  these 
Copperheads  went  out  to  meet  the  Confederates, 
and  assure  them  "how  they  had  always  loved 
them."  The  Confederates  wanted  tangible  proof 
of  this  love ;  they  demanded  that  one  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars  in  gold  be  paid  at  once ;  else  the  town 
of  York  would  be  burned.  Now,  wasn't  that  un- 
kind! but  lovers  must  ever  be  ready  to  prove,  you 
know. 

On  our  way  home  we  had  a  railroad  smash  at 
Mifflin,  Pa.  I  was  curled  up,  asleep  in  my  seat, 
but  received  only  a  scratch  on  my  forehead.  I 
crawled  out  of  a  w^indow  and  helped  recover  bodies 
from  the  wreckage. 

33 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

Fort  McHenry  is  an  historic  spot.  The  scene 
described  in  our  "Star  Spangled  Banner"  was  dedi- 
cated to  it.  It  was  its  ramparts  Key  referred  to 
in  his  first  verse.  In  1812  the  fort  was  garrisoned 
by  one  thousand  men  under  Major  Armisted,  to 
guard  Bahimore  from  an  attack  by  sea.  September 
13th,  1814,  the  British  admiral,  with  sixteen  heavy 
war  vessels,  opened  bombardment  upon  the  fort. 
Its  guns  failed  to  reach  the  fleet  till  some  of  the 
vessels  approached  nearer.  He  met  so  warm  a  re- 
ception that  they  withdrew,  badly  damaged.  A 
force  of  one  thousand  men  landed  to  surprise  the 
fort  in  the  rear,  but  they  were  repulsed.  At  mid- 
night the  firing  ceased.  Next  day  the  fleet  with- 
drew and  Baltimore  was  safe.  During  the  bom- 
bardment Francis  Scott  Key,  a  prisoner  on  board 
the  British  fleet,  wrote  the  "Star  Spangled  Banner." 

I  shall  never  forget  July  4th,  1863.  The  crucial 
battle  of  the  war,  Gettysburg,  was  being  fought. 
Meade  had  just  succeeded  Hooker  in  command  of 
the  army.  Anxiously  the  wisdom  of  the  change 
was  being  watched  by  every  soldier.  It  was  my 
fortune  to  be  detailed  as  officer  of  the  guard  at 
Fort  McHenry  that  day.  Guardmount  is  always 
an  inspiring  exercise,  for  then  troops  are  carefully 
inspected  and  instructed  before  entry  on  their  tour 
of  duty.  Fort  McHenry  is  an  ideally  beautiful 
spot,  situated  on  the  point  of  a  peninsula  formed 
by  the  confluence  of  the  north  and  south  forks  of 

34 


TRIP   TO   JOHNSON'S   ISLAND 

the  Patapsco  river.  The  spot  is  loved  by  every 
American.  A  picture,  a  combination  of  events,  pro- 
duced the  most  strikingly  emotional  effect  upon  me. 
We  were  formed  on  the  exact  ground  overlooked 
by  Key  when  he  wrote : 

"Oh,  say,  can  you  see,  by  the  dawn's  early 
light. 

What  so  proudly  we  hailed  at  the  twilight's 
last  gleaming, 

Whose  broad  stripes  and  bright  stars,  thro' 
the  perilous  fight. 

O'er  the  ramparts  we  watched,  were  so  gal- 
lantly streaming? 

And  the  rockets'  red  glare,  the  bombs  burst- 
ing in  air. 

Gave  proof  thro'  the  night  that  our  flag  was 
still  there. 

Oh,  say,  does  that  star  spangled  banner  yet 
wave, 

O'er  the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the 
brave?" 

I  was  trying  to  examine  arms.  Our  Post  Band, 
the  2d  Artillery  Band,  one  of  the  grandest  in  the 
service,  was  playing  that  soul  lifting  piece.  The 
north  fork  of  the  Patapsco  was  filled  with  trans- 
ports, carrying  bronzed  veterans  (I  think  the  19th 
Corps),  who  were  hurrying  to  Gettysburg,  and 
these  boys  were  yelling  for  twice  their  number; 
cheers  upon  cheers.    On  the  balcony  of  one  of  our 

35 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

prison  buildings  was  a  prisoner  of  war,  a  lineal 
descendant  of  Francis  Scott  Key,  overlooking  the 
scene.  And  I  thought  of  our  flag  over  yonder  to 
the  northwest,  forty  miles  away  at  Gettysburg. 
Yesterday  and  day  before  we  had  listened,  strain- 
ing our  ears  to  hear  the  guns.  Was  our  flag  still 
there  ?  Had  our  boys  with  Meade  stood  fast  against 
the  lion  of  the  Confederacy,  or  had  the  Stars  and 
Bars  been  flaunted  victorious  upon  the  battle 
ground  ?  God  knows  how  our  hearts  were  strained 
in  those  hours.  And  when  I  heard  the  cheers  of 
our  soldiers  upon  the  transports  and  thought  of 
Francis  Scott  Key  and  how  he  had  watched  to  see 
if  Old  Glory  still  waved,  my  eyes  were  blinded  with 
tears.  I  had  to  suspend  my  inspection  to  dry  them. 
I  was  not  alone  affected ;  there  were  many.  Such 
tears  one  need  not  be  ashamed  of ;  they  are  not  evi- 
dence of  weakness.  An  army  of  men  inspired  by 
such  emotions  would  be  best  to  avoid. 

I  shall  never  forget  the  relief  which  came  to  ou. 
anxiety  the  next  morning  (July  5th),  Gettysburg 
was  ours.  Lee  was  started  back  to  Virginia. 
Vicksburg,  too,  was  ours.  Indeed,  crucial  was  the 
day,  July  4th,  1863.  Every  one  of  our  ninety  mil- 
lions of  united  Americans  should  ever  give  thanks 
for  the  events  of  that  day. 


36 


FILE    IV. 

A  taste  of  the  Draft  Riots,  July  13.  1863,  when  con- 
veying wounded  Confederates  from  Gettysburg  to 
David's  Island,  New  York  Harbor  —  Governor 
Seymour's  questionable  conduct — A  mysterious 
Mr.  Andrews  of  \^irginia — "Knights  of  the  Golden 
Circle" — "Sons  of  Liberty"  and  a  North  Western 
Confederacy — Uncle  Burdette — The  Laurel  inci- 
dent. 

1  had  a  little  taste  of  the  draft  riots  during  that 
memorable  week  beginning  July  13th,  1863.  I  was 
ordered  to  David's  Island,  New  York  Harbor,  with 
seven  hundred  wounded  Confederates  from  Gettys- 
burg. The  demonstrations  of  the  mob  of  onlookers 
in  Philadelphia  were  so  very  unfriendly  that  we  had 
to  use  the  butts  of  our  muskets  to  control  the 
crowd.  They  threatened  us  saying,  "to-morrow 
will  be  our  day."  I  understood  the  threat  when  1 
learned  later  of  the  rioting.  We  were  advised  that 
our  train  was  to  be  intercepted  before  reaching 
New  York,  and  transportation  was,  therefore,  fur- 
nished on  the  steamer  "Commodore,"  by  the  outside 
course.  After  leaving  our  prisoners  at  David's  Is- 
land, we  landed  at  the  Battery,  and  there  I  ad- 
dressed my  men,  cautioning  them  not  to  reply  to 
any  assault  unless  ordered  by  me.     We  marched 

37 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

up  Broadway  to  the  City  Hall  Barracks  (where 
the  New  York  Post  Office  now  stands)  and  stacked 
arms  inside  the  enclosure.  I  was  proud  of  my  men. 
Each  one  appeared  a  giant,  steady,  firm  of  step,  lips 
compressed ;  two-thirds  of  them  were  foreign  born, 
yet  no  better  Americans  ever  paraded  Broadway. 

Immediately  after  stacking  arms,  a  lot  of  rioters 
who  had  just  overcome  their  guards,  seized  our 
stacks.  Our  boys  jumped  on  them  and  I  had  a  big 
job  to  keep  them  from  crushing  their  ribs.  Ex- 
ceeding my  orders,  I  permitted  my  men  to  visit 
their  homes,  to  report  back  at  midnight.  The  cars 
were  running  but  had  no  passengers.  I  rode  on 
the  Eighth  Avenue  car  to  48th  Street,  my  home. 
Our  house  was  locked,  but  Cousin  Wilbur  F.  Strong 
was  there  alone.  He  said  Brother  A.  P.  had  taken 
the  family  into  the  country  for  safety.  A.  P.'s  loy- 
alty had  made  him  a  "marked  man,"  and  he  had 
been  threatened.  After  eating,  Wilbur  and  I 
walked  down  to  John  Hardy's,  in  35th  Street. 
Stores  were  all  closed,  no  one  on  the  streets  but  an 
occasional  corner  loafer,  who  snarled  at  us.  Hardy 
had  been  hiding  his  colored  servant  in  the  coal  cel- 
lar, to  save  her  life.  Wilbur  afterwards  entered 
the  service,  and  went  on  the  "Hunter  raid"  up  the 
Shenandoah  Valley  in  1864.  He  died  from  the 
exhaustion  of  the  marches. 

At  midnight  every  man  was  behind  his  stacked 
arms,  ready  for  duty.     The  city  was  deserted,  as 

38 


A  TASTE  OF  DRAFT  RIOTS,  1863 

if  plague  stricken.     I  shall  never  forget  the  desola- 
tion. 

Ostensibly  the  draft  was  the  excuse,  but  with 
the  moving  spirits  it  was  but  a  subterfuge.  The 
ring-leader  of  the  mobs  in  New  York  was  a  mys- 
terious stranger,  a  "Mr.  Andrews"  of  Virginia. 
On  July  13th,  1863,  at  40th  Street  and  Fourth  Ave- 
nue, while  the  firemen  were  at  work  in  Third  Ave- 
nue, he  ascended  a  shanty  which  stood  opposite 
the  burning  ruins.  Thousands  were  assembled  be- 
hind this  shanty  in  an  open  space  of  untilled 
ground,  and  the  Virginian  orator  proceeded  to  ad- 
dress them.  He  cried  out  that  he  wished  he  had 
the  lungs  of  a  stentor  and  that  there  was  a  reporter 
present  to  take  down  his  words ;  he  said  he  had 
lately  addressed  them  in  Cooper  Institute,  where 
he  told  them  Mr.  Lincoln  wanted  to  tear  the  hard- 
working man  from  his  wife  and  family  and  send 
nim  to  the  war ;  he  denounced  Mr.  Lincoln  for  his 
conscription  bill  which  was  in  favor  of  the  rich 
and  against  the  poor  man ;  he  called  him  a  Nero 
and  a  Caligula  for  such  a  measure,  etc.  He  then 
advised  the  people  to  organize  to  resist  the  draft 
and  appoint  their  leader,  and  if  necessary  he  would 
be  their  leader  (uproarious  cheers).  Immediately 
after,  the  mob  destroyed  a  beautiful  dwelling  at 
Lexington  Avenue  and  47th  Street.  And  they  did 
organize.  Mounted  leaders  were  seen  to  give  or- 
ders to  subordinate  leaders  of  mobs;  one  of  these 

39 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

mounted  men  rode  on  horseback  into  the  hardware 
store  of  Hiram  JeUifife  in  Ninth  Avenue  and  seized 
what  arms  and  powder  he  had.  Mr.  JelHffe  after- 
wards identified  him  as  a  clerk  in  one  of  the  City 
departments. 

Governor  Horatio  Seymour,  in  answer  to  a  call 
from  Washington,  had  hurried  off  the  militia  to 
Pennsylvania.  He  made  a  memorable  speech 
standing  upon  the  City  Hall  steps,  in  which  he  ad- 
dressed the  rioters  as  "my  friends."  A  report  of 
it  says :  "Standing  near  him  on  the  steps  was  a 
ring-leader  of  a  mob,  who  had  just  made  an  in- 
flammatory speech  and  who  had  recently  come  from 
an  assault  on  the  'Tribune.'  "  The  "Tribune"  (edi- 
torially) said  practically  that:  "the  sending  of  the 
militia  out  of  New  York  was  with  a  knowledge  that 
it  would  be  desirable  to  have  them  away  when  his 
(the  Governor's)  'friends'  wanted  to  riot."  I  am 
aware  that  Governor  Seymour  has  been  a  sort  of 
idol  with  many,  and  that  if  I  lay  my  poor  weak 
tongue  on  his  fair  name,  I  will  incur  their  dis- 
pleasure ;  but  I  have  always  disliked  shams. 

Not  wishing  to  be  tedious,  I  want  to  recall  that 
when  the  war  broke  out  the  Confederacy  was  thor- 
oughly equi]jped  to  take  its  place  as  a  fully  or- 
ganized nation  at  once.  This  fact  was  commented 
on  and  efforts  were  made  to  explain  how  it  was 
accomplished.  No  comprehensive  history  of  the 
struggle  can  be  written  that  does  not  include  the 
40 


GOVERNOR  SEYMOUR'S  CONDUCT 

secret  societies  that  abetted.  They  played  as  im- 
portant a  part  as  did  the  army  which  opposed  us, 
and  was  vastly  more  dangerous  by  reason  of  the 
insidious  character  of  its  movements. 

One  State  after  another  swung  into  line  under 
some  mysterious  talisman,  although  there  was  a 
strong  sentiment  against  leaving  the  Union. 

In  delving  into  affairs  generally,  I  became  pos- 
sessed of  information  that,  so  far  as  I  know,  has 
never  been  in  print.  I  learned  that  a  secret  or- 
ganization known  as  the  "Knights  of  the  Golden 
Circle"  was  the  nucleus  of  the  Confederacy.  That 
under  its  secret  fostering  the  Confederacy  was  fully 
developed,  ready  to  take  its  place  among  the  nations. 
That  the  Knights  were  an  outgrowth  of  the  de- 
funct "Know  Nothing"  society  that  had  become 
disrupted  on  the  subject  of  the  extension  of  slavery 
(which  also  divided  churches).  That  as  soon  as 
the  Confederacy  was  in  the  saddle,  no  longer  were 
there  any  initiations  into  the  "Knights  of  the  Golden 
Circle,"  but  a  subordinate  society  was  organized  to 
do  further  work,  i.e.,  to  further  disrupt  the  Union. 
This  society  was  known  as  the  "Sons  of  Liberty." 

The  purpose  of  the  "Sons  of  Liberty"  was  to 
form  a  northwestern  confederacy.  My  source  of 
information  said  that  it  was  understood  in  that  cir- 
cle, that  Governor  Horatio  Seymour  was  to  give 
the  signal  for  disruption,  which  was  to  be  a  refusal 
from  New  York  to  furnish  its  quota  of  soldiers. 

41 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

Seymour  failed  them.  He  did  not  refuse,  but  he 
protested  and  procrastinated.  He  obstructed  the 
draft  as  adroitly  as  he  could,  claiming  inequities. 
And  on  August  7th,  1863,  Mr.  Lincoln  in  a  com- 
munication to  Seymour  regarding  these  claims, 
said :  "We  are  contending  with  an  enemy  who,  as 
I  understand,  drives  every  able-bodied  man  he  can 
reach  into  his  ranks,  very  much  as  a  butcher  drives 
bullocks  into  a  slaughter  pen ;  no  time  is  wasted, 
no  argument  is  used."  And  Mr.  Lincoln  repeatedly 
wrote  Governor  Seymour  of  the  cost  in  blood  and 
treasure  by  the  delays  he  was  causing. 

The  bloodiest  and  most  brutal  riots  this  country 
ever  saw  ensued  in  New  York,  Boston,  Portsmouth 
and  other  cities.  The  draft  riots  were,  in  fact,  but 
the  first  step  of  the  "Sons  of  Liberty"  in  uprising, 
towards  forming  another  rupture.  To  this  secret 
movement  of  the  "Sons  of  Liberty"  I  refer  to  the 
following  documents : 

Head  Quarters,  District  of  Indiana, 
Indianapolis,  Sept.  3,   1864. 
1st.    Large  numbers  of  men  of  suspected 
loyalty  to  the  United  States,  have  heretofore, 
and  still  are  immigrating  to  the  State  of  In- 
diana, and  in  some  localities  their  open  and 
avowed  hatred  to  the  Government,  and  trea- 
sonable designs  are   fully  expressed.     .     .     . 
By  order  of 
Bvt.  Major  General  Alvin  P.  Hovey, 
And.  C.  Cemper,  A.A.G. 
42 


A  MYSTERIOUS  MR.  ANDREWS 

An  order  had  previously  been  issued  by  General 
Heintzelman,  Commander  of  the  Department,  pro- 
hibiting the  transport  of  arms  into  the  Department 
by  Railroads. 

Governor  Oliver  P.  Morton,  in  his  message  to 
the  Legislature  in  June,  1865,  said: 

"Some  misguided  persons  who  mistook  the 
bitterness  of  party  patriotism  and  ceased  to 
feel  the  obligations  of  allegiance  to  our  Coun- 
try and  Government,  conspired  against  the 
State  and  National  Government  and  sought 
by  Military  force  to  plunge  us  into  the  hor- 
rors of  revolution. 

A  secret  organization  had  been  formed 
which  by  its  lectures  and  rituals  inculcated 
doctrines  subversive  of  the  Government,  and 
which  carried  to  their  consequences  would 
evidently  result  in  disruption  and  destruction 
of  the  nation. 

The  members  of  this  organization  were 
united  by  solemn  oaths,  which  if  observed, 
bound  them  to  execute  the  orders  of  their 
Grand  Commanders  without  delay  or  ques- 
tion, however  treasonable  or  criminal  might 
be  their  character. 

I  am  glad  to  believe  that  the  great  majority 
of  its  members  regarded  it  merely  as  a  politi- 
cal machine  and  did  not  suspect  the  ulterior 
treasonable  action  contemplated  by  its  lead- 
ers, and  upon  discovery  of  its  true  character, 

43 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

hastened    to    abjure    all    connection    with    it. 
Some  of  the  chief  conspirators   have  been 

arrested    and   tried   by   the   government,   and 

others    have    tied,    their    schemes    have    been 

exposed  and   baflled." 

The  arrest  of  Clement  L.  Vallandigham,  of  Ohio, 
for  treason,  uncovered  part  of  the  conspiracy ;  he 
was,  in  fact,  the  Grand  Commander  of  the  Order. 
Of  him  Mr.  Lincoln  said: 

"I  solemnly  declare  my  belief  that  this  hin- 
drance of  the  military,  including-  maiming  and 
murder,  is  due  to  the  course  in  which  Mr. 
Vallandigham  has  been  engaged,  in  a  greater 
degree  than  to  any  other  cause,  and  it  is  due 
to  him  personally,  in  a  greater  degree  than  to 
any  other  man." 

The  Indianapolis  "Journal,"  July  2d,  1864,  said: 

"Members  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty  were  ad- 
vised that  Morgan  (the  Rebel  raider)  would 
be  in  Kentucky,  and  Vallandigham  in  Ham- 
ilton, on  or  about  June  14th  (1864).  It  was 
through  information  furnished  by  members 
of  this  order  that  Governor  Bramlette  of 
Kentucky  was  apprised  of  Morgan's  intended 
raid  and  attack  upon  Frankfort. 

The  rumor  that  there  was  collusion  be- 
tween the  friends  of  \^allandigham  and  Mor- 
gan seems  possible.  In  the  letter  of  Governor 
Bramlette,  which  we  append,  significant  allu- 

44 


"KNIGHTS  OF  THE  GOLDEN  CIRCLE" 

sion  is  made  to  it.  It  would  seem  strange  in- 
deed, that  the  Sons  of  Liberty  should  be  so 
advised  of  the  simultaneous  raids  of  the  Ca- 
nadian and  Kentucky  Confederates  unless  a 
common  understanding  was  had  between  the 
two  traitors,  and  concerted  action  determined 
upon.  That  they  were  so  advised  is  evident 
from  the  fact  that  certain  of  their  number  ad- 
monished Governor  Morton  of  Indiana  be- 
forehand, who  in  turn  advised  Governor 
Bramlette  of  the  approaching  danger  in  time 
for  him  to  provide  for  it. 

Commonwealth  of  Kentucky, 

Executive  Department, 
Frankfort,  June  22,  1864. 

Governor  Oliver  P.  Morton, 
Indianapolis,  Ind. 

Dear  Sir. — I  return  you  my  most  grateful 
thanks  for  your  prompt  assistance  during 
Morgan's  recent  raid.  The  timely  arrival  of 
the  43d  Regiment,  Indiana  Volunteers,  gave 
us  entire  relief  against  apprehension  of  dan- 
ger. 

Although  the  citizens  had  repulsed  the  Reb- 
els, yet  the  large  numbers  still  infesting  this 
section  at  the  time  of  their  arrival  kept  us 
upon  constant  vigil  and  serious  apprehension 
of  another  assault. 

The   patriotism    and    kindly    feeling    wdiich 

45 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

prompted  the  gallant  veterans  of  the  Forty- 
third  to  rush  to  our  relief  without  delaying 
after  their  long  and  arduous  labors  to  even 
greet  their  families,  deserves  the  highest  com- 
mendation from  their  countrymen,  and  will 
ever  command  from  us  of  Kentucky,  the  pro- 
foundest  gratitude. 

The  appearance  of  Vallandigham,  of  Ohio, 
simultaneously  with  Morgan's  raid  in  Ken- 
tucky, fully  confirms  the  matter  made  known 
to  me  through  General  Lindsey,  by  you. 

The  defeat  of  Morgan  has  frustrated  their 
movements  for  the  present,  but  vigilance  in 
the  future  must  still  guard  us  against  the 
machinations  of  evil  doers. 

Yours  truly, 
Thomas  E.  Bramlette. 

Arms  for  the  Sons  of  Liberty  were  seized  in  In- 
dianapolis and  New  York,  and  at  many  other 
places.  The  organization  was  said  to  have  a  mem- 
bership of  one  million  members,  all  bound,  by  oath, 
to  sustain  the  Southern  Confederacy. 

In  many  instances,  to  outward  appearances,  they 
were  merely  social  or  political  clubs  that  could  be 
attended  by  the  unsuspecting,  when  they  were  not 
in  executive  session. 

The  draft  riots,  hotel  burnings,  attempts  to  de- 
stroy our  water  supply,  and  kindred  work,  down 
to  and  including  the  assassination  conspiracy,  are 
46 


"SONS    OF    LIBERTY" 

all  to  be  charged  to  the  Sons  of  Liberty.  They  are 
also  to  be  charged  with  the  presidential  election 
fraud  of  1864.  Its  virus  permeated  all.  No  man 
has  ever  admitted  being  a  member  of  it. 

And  Governor  Seymour  was  expected  to  be  its 
"bell  wether''  in  the  disruption  movement.  Evi- 
dently his  nerve  failed  him.  The  riots  in  New 
York  probably  demonstrated  to  him  that  real  w-ar 

is  real  h 1,  and  it  scared  him.     I  do  not  assume 

that  any  considerable  portion  of  the  Confederates 
were  members  of  either  of  the  secret  societies;  sol- 
diers are  seldom  conspirators. 

There  were  characters  in  the  Confederate  service 
whom  a  Union  man  could  well  admire :  Lee,  "Stone- 
wall" Jackson,  Alexander  H.  Stevens  and  others, 
but  there  should  be  contempt  only  for  men  who, 
while  holding  office  under  the  protecting  arm  of  a 
magnanimous  government,  bent  every  nerve  to  trip 
up  their  benefactor. 

L'ncle  Burdette's  service  was  exclusively  with 
troops.  First  with  the  90th  Regiment  at  Key  West 
(Graham  has  yet  a  bottled  scorpion  that  he  sent 
home  from  there,  found  in  his  sleeping  blanket), 
then  with  the  i6th  Cavalry  in  Virginia,  and  finally 
with  the  1626.  Regiment  in  the  assault  on  Port  Hud- 
son. He  was  also  with  the  Banks  Red  River  expe- 
dition. No  better  man  ever  straddled  a  horse ;  he 
could  have  acquitted  himself  as  a  champion  "bronco 
buster." 

47 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

The  following  incident  belongs  right  here: 

Headquarters,  Fort  McHenry,  Md., 

Sept.  i8th,  1863. 
Special  Order  No.  190. 

Lieut.  H.  B.  Smith,  of  Co.  D.,  5th  N.  Y. 
Arty.,  with  a  guard  from  Co.  G.,  N.  Y. 
Arty.,  consisting  of  one  sergeant,  two  cor- 
porals and  twenty-two  men,  with  two  days 
rations,  will,  when  transportation  is  provided, 
proceed  to  Alexandria,  Va.,  in  charge  of 
ninety-three  soldier  prisoners,  and  turn  them 
over  with  lists  and  charges  of  same  to  the 
commanding  officer  of  Camp  of  Distribution, 
near  that  place. 

H.  This  duty  performed  Lieut.  Smith  and 
guard  will  return  without  delay  and  report  to 
the  commanding  officer  of  this  post. 

Lieut.  Thos.  Grey,  the  quarter  master,  will 
furnish  the  necessary  transportation. 
By  command. 

Col.  P.  A.  Porter. 
Ford  Morris, 
1st.  Lieut.  6th  N.  Y.  Arty. 

Post  Adjutant. 
Lieut.  Smith, 

D.  Co.,  5th  N.  Y.  Arty. 

On  our  way  to  Washington,  at  Laurel,  Md.,  we 
found   the   railroad   bridge   crossing   the    Patuxent 
river  had  been  washed  away  by  a  recent  freshet. 
48 


A  NORTHWESTERN  CONFEDERACY 

We  were  forced  to  disembark,  go  down  a  high  em- 
bankment and  cross  the  river  by  a  foot  bridge.  By 
some  means  some  of  the  prisoners  had  obtained 
some  "fire  water"  and  were  troublesome ;  some  of 
them  were  fighting  on  this  foot  bridge.  I  took  a 
hand  in  it  and  tumbled  a  few  into  the  river  (not 
very  deep).  Just  then  I  noticed  three  or  four  of 
them  scurrying  away,  running  through  a  field  of 
grain.  I  really  felt  more  sorry  for  the  owner  of 
the  field  than  for  the  loss  of  the  men.  Aunt  Mag 
had  often  spoke  of  our  visiting  her  brother  Wil- 
liam and  sister  Mary  at  Laurel,  but  we  never  went 
there  until  after  our  marriage,  when  I  found,  on 
arriving  there,  that  the  owner  of  the  grain  field 
my  prisoners  had  so  ruthlessly  damaged  was 
brother  William.  He  could  not  remember  the  in- 
stance, as  such  events  were  of  frequent  occurrence, 
but  we  had  a  laugh  over  it. 


49 


FILE    V. 


Appointed  assistant  provost  marshal  at  Fort  McHenry, 
where  I  began  my  first  experience  in  detective 
work — Somewhat  a  history  of  my  early  life — Or- 
dered to  execute  Gordon  by  shooting. 


I  was  on  duty  with  troops  until  detailed  as  As- 
sistant Provost  Marshal  at  Fort  McHenry.  The  ad- 
ministration of  prisoners  confined  at  Fort  McHenry 
had  become  unsatisfactory ;  escapes  were  frequent. 
Colonel  Porter  selected  Capt.  Holmes  of  the  8th 
New  York  Heavy  Artillery  and  myself  to  reform 
the  prison. 

Headquarters,  Fort  McHenry, 

October  25,  1863. 

General  Order  No.  51. 

I.  Lieut.  George  Nellis,  Co.  D.,  5th  Arty., 
N.  Y.  v.,  is  hereby  relieved  from  duty  as 
Asst.  Provost  Marshal  and  will  without  delay 
report  to  his  Company  Commander  for  duty. 

H.  Lieut.  H.  B.  Smith,  Co.  D.,  5th  Arty., 
N.  Y.  v.,  is  hereby  appointed  Asst.  Provost 

50 


ASSISTANT  PROVOST  MARSHAL 

Marshal  and  will  without  delay  assume  the 
duties  of  that  office. 

P.  A.  Porter, 
Col.  8th  N.  Y.  V.  Arty. 
Com.  Post. 

Lieut.  H.  B.  Smith, 

D.  Co.,  5th  Reg.,  N.  Y.  V.,  Arty., 
Fort  McHenry,  Md. 


Right  here  was  begun  what  led  up  to  my  ulti- 
mately becoming  a  full-fledged  secret  service  opera- 
tor. Born  in  the  green  foot-hills  of  the  Catskill 
Mountains  (near  where  Rip  Van  Winkle  dozed),  I 
learned  my  "A  B  abs"  in  the  little  brown  school 
house  at  Cornwallville.  Father  died  when  I  was 
four  years  old.  Mother  traded  the  farm  for  some 
New  York  tenements,  and  we  all  located  there, 
when  I  was  ten  years  old.  I  attended  the  public 
schools  where  I  was  properly  "hazed"  and  got  what 
was  "coming"  to  all  country  boys ;  finally  I  gradu- 
ated under  the  tutelage  of  Dr.  Joseph  Finch  (a 
patriot  indeed,  who  made  a  lasting  impress  for 
earnestness  on  thousands  of  boys),  and  then  went 
to  business  as  an  entry  clerk  with  a  large  importing 
metal  house,  where  I  remained  until  the  war  broke 
out.  You  will  therefore  see  I  had  had  no  former 
experience  (my  age  was  22  years)  and  whatever  wit 
I  had  for  such  service  was  inborn  or  home-made. 

51 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

Zeal  I  know  I  had ;  perhaps  its  birth  was  from  a 
chalk  legend  some  pedagogue  had  inscribed  over 
the  door-frame  in  the  little  brown  school  house, 
reading :  ''What  man  has  done,  man  can  do."  At 
any  rate  I  have  remembered  it. 

My  education  in  the  burning  political  questions 
had  been  sharply  marked  by  the  presidential  cam- 
paign of  i860.  My  brothers,  A.  P.  and  Burdette, 
were  "Douglas"  Democrats.  My  fellow  clerk, 
Clarence  W.  Meade  (later  Judge  Meade),  was  a 
"Bell  and  Everett"  Democrat.  I  was  a  born  "Lin- 
coln" Republican.  So  between  the  discussions  at 
the  house  and  the  office,  I  was  somewhat  sharpened. 
I  remember  how  I  struggled  against  their  argu- 
ments that  Lincoln  was  an  uneducated,  uncultured 
rail-splitter.  I  knew  of  his  discussions  with  Doug- 
las, but  never  did  1  completely  vanquish  them  until 
Mr.  Lincoln  delivered  his  Gettysburg  oration,  and 
"that  ball  fetched  all  the  pins  and  knocked  a  hole 
through  the  alley."  And  it  must  be  noted  that  I 
thought  myself,  somewhat  like  a  Demosthenes,  for  I 
had  practiced  in  that  little  school  house  on  "Twinkle, 
Twinkle,  Little  Star"  and  two  verses  of  "On  Linden 
When  the  Sun  Was  Low,"  much  to  mother's  de- 
light. So  equipped,  or  so  not  equipped,  I  began  my 
duties  as  Assistant  Provost  Marshal. 

Confederate  mail  carrying,  spy  promoting,  block- 
ade promoting,  recruiting  for  Confederate  service, 
were    being   engineered    right    from    among    these 

52 


FIRST  DETECTIVE  WORK 

prisoners.  I  "under-grounded"  it  all.  Through  this 
channel  I  enlisted  for  the  Confederate  service. 
Of  course  you  know  that  when  I  enlisted  in  the 
service  of  our  enemies,  I  did  so  to  discover  their 
actions,  and  was  what  most  people  call  a  "spy."  I 
had  often  read  the  story  of  Nathan  Hale,  the  splen- 
did patriot  of  the  American  Revolution  who  was  a 
spy  in  the  service  of  General  Washington  and  who 
gave  up  his  life  to  the  service.  (The  Sons  of  the 
Revolution  of  the  State  of  New  York  have  erected  a 
fine  monument  to  him  in  the  New  York  City  Hall 
Park).  Perhaps  there  would  be  less  danger  in 
being  a  soldier  in  the  ranks  who  goes  forward  with 
arms  in  hand  and  fights  openly  in  battle  and  dies 
thus,  than  to  be  a  spy  and  constantly  in  the  shadow 
of  death,  night  and  day,  and  no  soldier's  death  for 
him,  but  the  death  of  the  hangman's  noose;  yes,  I 
knew  all  this. 

I  worked  a  blockade  running  outfit,  involving 
General  Morris's  adjutant  general,  Capt.  E.  W.  An- 
drews (of  whom  I  will  tell  more  later  on),  and  I 
captured  Confederate  mail  carriers,  none  of  which 
were  any  part  of  my  duty,  but  all  contributed  to 
the  general  good  of  the  service.  Strictly  speaking, 
my  duties  were  completed  by  caring  for  the  safe 
keeping,  discipline  and  comfort  of  the  prisoners  in 
our  charge.  To  do  more  was  supererogation,  and 
ought  to  be  credited  to  zeal. 

In  a  short  time  I  found  that  these  Confederates 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

worked  their  escape  through  the  use  of  gold  sup- 
plied them  by  their  sympathizers  in  bribing  the 
guards.  But  we  stopped  that  and  thereafter  the  sol- 
diers for  sentry  duty  at  certain  posts  were  selected 
for  their  known  probity.  Escapes  continued  for  a 
time  (but  they  were  always  recaptured  when  they 
supposed  themselves  safe  outside  our  guards). 
When  these  escapes  (?)  were  accomplished  there 
was  great  jubilation  among  the  Confederates.  They 
had  a  great  "laugh"  on  the  Yankees;  which  laugh 
was  changed  to  "the  other  side  of  the  mouth"  when 
all  the  escaped  (?)  ones  were  marched  back  into 
camp,  one  bright  morning.  About  a  mile  down  the 
road  leading  from  our  exterior  gate  to  Baltimore 
was  a  hotel  called  the  "Vineyard,"  I  engaged  the 
upper  floors  of  it  in  which  to  domicile  my  escaped 
( ?)  prisoners.  When  we  had  accumulated  there 
about  fifteen  we  marched  them  all  back  to  our 
prison. 

After  telling  their  fellows  of  the  futility  of  their 
plans  no  more  escapes  were  attempted. 

The  government  was  kind  to  prisoners.  We 
clothed  them  and  gave  them  blankets  to  keep  them 
comfortable.  I  have  receipted  rolls  now  showing 
such  issues.  They  came  to  us  in  rags  or  worse  than 
rags,  in  fact,  and  left  us  fat  and  well  clothed.  On 
one  occasion  when  an  exchange  of  prisoners  was 
ordered,  I  judged  that  one  good  suit  of  clothes  was 
enough  to  start  them  off  with ;  but  orders  came 

54 


A   HISTORY   OF   MY  EARLY   LIFE 

from  Washington  to  allow  them  to  carry  away  all 
the  clothing  given  them  by  their  friends,  which  in 
some  instances  was  three  or  four  suits  to  a  man. 
Our  prisoners  were  confined  in  buildings  known  as 
the  Ringgold  Battery  Barracks,  quite  insecure  for 
the  purpose.  We  constructed  about  the  premises 
a  plank  fence  twelve  feet  high,  with  balcony  and 
sentry  boxes  on  top,  leaving  no  good  chance  for 
communication  between  prisoners  and  guards. 

The  first  unpleasant  duty  devolving  on  me  is  de- 
scribed in  the  following  order : 

Headquarters,  Fort  McHenry, 

Nov.  19,  1863. 
General  Order  No.  53. 

In  pursuance  of  General  Order  No.  54  and 
56  issued  from  Headquarters,  Middle  Depart- 
ment, 8th  Army  Corps,  Oct.  26,  and  Nov.  3, 
1863,  and  General  Order  No.  92,  issued  from 
headquarters  2d.  Separate  Brigade,  Defences 
of  Baltimore,  Nov.  19,  1863,  William  F. 
Gordon,  a  prisoner  in  confinement  at  this 
post,  will  be  shot  to  death  with  musketry, 
between  the  hours  of  12  M.  and  3  o'clock 
P.  M.,  on  Friday,  the  20th  inst.,  on  the  Pa- 
rade Ground  at  Fort  McHenry,  according  to 
military  usage  in  such  cases,  provided  the  ap- 
proval of  the  President  of  the  United  States 
be  received. 

The  Asst.  Provost  Marshal    of    the    Post, 

55 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

Lieut.  LL  B.  Smith,  is  charged  with  the  execu- 
tion of  this  order. 

(Signed)    By  Command  of 

Col.  P.  A.  Porter, 
8th  N.  Y.  V.  Arty.,  Com'd'g  Post. 
Geo.  Wiard, 

Lieut.  8th  N.  Y.  V.  Arty  and  Post  Adjt. 

A  harder  duty  could  not  be  directed.  In  cases 
where  execution  is  by  shooting,  a  firing  party  is 
picked,  and  their  rifles  are  loaded  for  them.  One 
gun  among  them  is  loaded  with  a  blank  cartridge, 
so  that  each  member  of  the  firing  party  can  hope 
he  has  it.  In  case  death  does  not  result  from  the 
firing  it  becomes  the  duty  of  the  officer  commanding 
the  firing  party  to  complete  the  execution  of  the 
order.  That  was  not  a  cheerful  prospect  for  me. 
I  had  twenty-four  hours  for  serious  contemplation ; 
suppose  the  men  should  aim  wrong?  Then  I  would 
be  compelled  to  shoot  the  man  as  a  mere  cold  duty. 
We  were  spared  its  execution  by  the  following  tele- 
graphic order : 

War  Department, 
Nov.  20,    1863. 
Major  General  Schenck : 

The  President  directs  that  the  execution  of 
sentence  of  death  against  Gordon,  now  in 
Fort  McHenry,  be  suspended  until  further 
orders. 

(Signed)   E.  M.  Stanton, 

Sec.  of  War. 
56 


FILE   VI. 

Detective  work  required  an  extension  of  territory — 
A  flattering  endorsement  by  Colonel  Porter — In- 
troducing Christian  Emmerich  and  incidentally 
Charles  E.  Langley,  a  noted  Confederate  spy. 

For  the  purpose  of  showing  how  I  grew  in  the 
service  I  will  ask  you  to  read  each  order  carefully. 
Sometimes  they  explain  themselves,  sometimes  not. 

Investigations  started  in  the  prisons  required 
work  to  be  done  outside  the  garrison,  throughout 
Maryland  and  perhaps  into  Virginia,  which  would 
carry  me  outside  our  post  limits  and  required  au- 
thority from  Department  commanders.  The  De- 
partment comprised  Maryland,  parts  of  Delaware 
and  Virginia.  The  following  personal  letter  was 
addressed  to  Colonel  W.  S.  Fish,  Provost  Marshal 
under  General  Schenck : 

Headquarters,  Fort  McHenry, 

Nov.  27,  1863. 
Dear  Colonel. — Our  Assistant  Provost  Mar- 
shal, Lieut.  Smith,  has  got  hold  of  a   sloop 
and  her  Captain.    He  was  to  be  examined  be- 
fore you,  but  Smith  says  that  McPhail's  men 

57 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

have  other  and  earlier  accounts  to  settle  with 
him.    I  suggest  this  as  you  may  have  a  great 
deal  to  do  and  may  prefer  to  transfer  the  case 
to  those  already  familiar  with  it. 
Very  truly, 

P.  A.  Porter, 
Col.  8th  N.  Y.  V.  Arty., 

Com'd'g  Post. 

The  following  will  show  my  progress  in  such 
matters : 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 

Office  Provost  Marshal, 
Baltimore,  Dec.  23,  1863. 

Lieut.  H.  B.  Smith,  Assistant  Provost  Mar- 
shal, Fort  McHenry,  is  hereby  authorized  to 
visit  and  search  any  house  in  the  City  of 
Baltimore  that  he  has  good  reason  to  believe 
contains  Rebel  mail,  or  any  treasonable  mat- 
ter. By  order, 

W.  S.  Fish, 
Col.  and  Provost  Marshal  General, 
8th  Army  Corps. 

My  work  at  Fort  McHenry  absolutely  required 
freedom  to  act  outside. 

58 


WORK  REQUIRED  MORE  TERRITORY 

Office  Provost  Marshal, 
Fort  McHenry,  Jan,  8,  1864. 

Confidential. 
Colonel  Fish, 

Provost  Marshal,  8th  Army  Corps. 

Dear  Sir. — I  am  at  last  able  to  report  that 
we  have  gotten  underway  an  underground 
correspondence  between  Trought  and  Em- 
merich. At  first  the  correspondence  was  un- 
important (which  was,  of  course,  policy  for 
them),  but  now  they  have  become  confiden- 
tial. I,  with  some  others,  intend  to  enlist  in 
the  Rebel  service,  but  my  plan  is  too  long  to 
explain  here. 

Now,  Colonel,  if  you  will  drop  a  line  to 
Colonel  Porter,  asking  him  to  allow  me  to 
organize  a  squad  of  reliable  men,  say  twelve 
or  fifteen,  and  instruct  them,  whom  we  can 
call  upon  at  any  time,  we  will  guarantee  to 
show  some  rich  developments  inside  of  three 
weeks. 

Emmerich  is  not  alone  but  is  connected 
with  some  of  the  largest  houses  in  Balti- 
more. 

Trusting  this  will  meet  your  approval,  I 
am.  Col.  Very  resp'y, 

H.  B.  Smith, 
Lt.  and  Asst.  Pro.  Mar. 

This    was    officially    approved    first    by    Colonel 
Fish,  and  then  by  Colonel  Porter. 

59 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

Office  Provost  Marshal, 
Fort  McHenry,  Jan.  26,  1864. 
Col.  P.  A.  Porter, 

Commanding  2d  Separate  Brigade, 

Defences  of  Baltimore. 
I  respectfully  beg  leave  to  lay  before  you 
the  following  and   ask  for  authority  to  pro- 
ceed further. 

Four  recruits  for  the  Rebel  Army  are  in 
Baltimore,  also  two  Rebel  officers.  I  want 
authority  to  follow  them  and  make  the  arrest 
when  about  to  cross  the  Potomac,  thus  im- 
plicating all  the  parties  connected  in  recruit- 
ing for  the  Rebel  Army  in  and  about  Balti- 
more. I  have  it  so  arranged  that  it  will  be 
impossible  for  them  to  get  away  from  me,  if  I 
am  allowed  to  proceed.  And  as  I  have  some 
more  operations  in  process  of  development, 
I  would  respectfully  ask  to  have  the  authority 
extended  to  cover  them  also. 

I  could  make  some  of  these  arrests  in  Balti- 
more, but  as  it  is  perfectly  safe,  by  allow- 
ing them  to  get  a  little  further,  it  would  make 
the  case  a  still  more  fatal  one  for  the  par- 
ties concerned. 

I  am,  Colonel,  Very  Resp'y, 
Your  Ob'd't  Serv't, 

H.  B.  Smith, 
Lt.  and  Asst.  Pro.  Mar. 

The  endorsement  on  the  back  of  the  above  paper 
has  always  been  a  source  of  gratification.    No  man 
60 


ENDORSEMENT  BY  COL.  PORTER 

from  New  York  State  was  ever  more  highly  es- 
teemed than  Colonel  Porter.  He  was  talked  of  for 
Governor.  A  brave,  true,  and  generous  man,  loved 
by  all.  He  was  killed  at  Cold  Harbor,  leading  his 
regiment.  His  body  was  dragged  back  to  our  lines 
in  the  darkness  of  the  night. 

Headquarters,  2d  Separate  Brigade, 
Defences  of  Baltimore. 

Jan.  26,  1864. 
I  approve  of  the  proceedings  of  Lieut. 
Smith,  who  has  my  entire  confidence  as  an 
upright  and  skillful  officer.  I  have  referred 
him  to  the  Provost  Marshal  for  advice,  in- 
struction, and  authority. 

P.  A.  Porter, 
Col.  8th  N.  Y.  V.  Arty., 
Commanding  2d  Separate  Brigade. 

On  the  same  day  the  application  was  approved 
at  Department  Headquarters. 

The  centre  around  which  this  recruiting  and 
other  disloyal  schemes  revolved  was  one  Christian 
Emmerich,  a  fashionable  shoemaker  on  South  Gay 
Street.  His  place  was  a  convenient  centre  for  all 
important  Confederate  sympathizers.  His  resi- 
dence was  in  a  fashionable  part  of  the  city.  We 
were  entirely  successful,  capturing  the  whole  party, 
including  a  conductor  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad,  who  was  caught  transporting  these  re- 
61 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

cruits,  well  knowing  their  character.  We  simul- 
taneously seized  the  Christian  Emmerich  store  on 
South  Gay  Street,  and  his  residence ;  in  the  latter 
we  found  much  incriminating  evidence,  such  as 
orders  for  Confederate  uniforms,  gold  braid,  but- 
tons and  Confederate  letters.  Emmerich  was  not 
a  common  mender  of  "old  soles,"  but  was  the  shoe- 
maker to  the  bon-ton  of  Baltimore.  We  entirely 
destroyed  the  Confederate  recruiting  business  con- 
ducted through  that  channel. 

I  have  a  photograph  of  the  conductor  referred  to, 
taken  together  with  his  pal  or  partner,  who  was  a 
spy.  The  spy's  name  was  Charles  E.  Langley.  I 
will  tell  you  all  about  him  and  his  mysterious  back- 
ing when  I  come  to  my  regular  work  in  December, 
1864,  where  his  statement  is  printed. 


^2 


FILE   VII. 

Investigator's  education — I  branded  E.  W.  Andrews, 
adjutant  general  to  General  Morris,  a  traitor  to 
the  colors. 

In  our  prison  were  confined  prisoners  of  all 
classes,  Confederate  ofiicers,  spies,  blockade-run- 
ners, pirates,  civil  and  political  prisoners.  Our  of- 
fice was  the  reception  room  where  these  persons 
interviewed  their  "sympathizers,"  much  of  such  in- 
terviewing taking  place  in  my  presence.  Their 
mail  passed  through  our  hands,  what  better  place 
could  there  have  been  to  develop  an  "investigator?" 

War  Department, 
Washington,  Feb.  27,  1864. 
General  Morris,  commanding  at  Fort  Mc- 
Henry,   will  allow   Mr.   W.   G.   Woodside  to 

see  Thomas  I.  Hall  and Baylor,  Rebel 

prisoners  confined  there.    General  Morris  will 
be  present  at  the  interview. 

By  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War. 

(Signed)    C.  A.  Dana, 
Asst.  Secy,  of  War. 

63 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

This  was  endorsed : 

To  the  Provost  Marshal: 

You  will  allow  Mr.  W.  G.  Woodside,  the 
bearer  of  this,  to  see  the  prisoners  mentioned 
within,  Hall  and  Baylor.  Lieut.  Smith  will 
be  present  at  the  interview. 

(Signed)        P.  A.  Porter, 
Col.  8th  N.  Y.  V.  Arty., 
Commanding  Brigade. 
Fort  McHenry, 
Feb'y  28,  1864. 

Baltimore,  Feb'y  15,  1864. 
Sir. — Will  you  be  kind  enough   to  deliver 
the  joined  letter  to  Jules  Klotz.  a  French  sub- 
ject, detained  at  Fort  McHenry.    He  wrote  to 
me  to  direct  my   letters  to  yourself. 

I  should  be  very  obliged  to  you  to  let  me 
know  the  reasons  why  he  has  been  arrested 
and  his  true  situation  towards  the  American 
government. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

(Signed)   A.  Sauvan, 
French  Vice  Consul. 
To  Mr.  Smith. 

Lieutenant,  Fort  McHenry. 

You  will  see  by  these  documents  that  my  survey 
of  prisoners  and  their  letters  was  always  by  author- 
ity and  not  merely  to  gratify  my  own  curiosity. 
64 


INVESTIGATOR'S    EDUCATION 

The  Adjutant  General  is  the  confidential  reliance 
of  a  commanding  officer.  General  Morris  was  ad- 
vanced in  years  and  depended  implicitly  on  his  Adju- 
tant General,  Captain  E.  \y.  Andrews.  I  branded 
Andrews  a  traitor  to  the  colors.  It  was  a  serious 
position  for  a  subaltern  to  assume,  but  I  had  the 
evidence  to  substantiate  the  charge.  In  searching 
the  house  of  one  Terrence  R.  Quinn,  a  noted  block- 
ade-runner, then  a  prisoner  in  Fort  McHenry,  I 
found  evidence  that  Andrews  was  a  partner  in  his 
crimes.  And  I  found  that  my  predecessor,  the 
former  Assistant  Provost  Marshal,  was  also  in- 
criminated ;  then  it  became  easier  for  me  to  under- 
stand how  so  many  prisoners  had  been  allowed  to 
escape  (as  many  as  sixty-five  in  one  night).  Later 
on  I  will  have  two  more  references  to  Andrews, 
which  will  explain  what  became  of  him. 

Andrews  was  a  man  of  brains.  He  started  in 
life,  I  believe,  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  then 
turned  to  law.  By  his  suavity  and  impudence,  he 
gained  control  of  General  Morris.  The  post  was 
important  because  it  carried  so  great  a  number  of 
prisoners.  Andrews  had  his  son  made  Provost 
Marshal,  and  the  escapes  of  prisoners  by  one  means 
or  another,  were  made  so  easily  that  the  scandal  of 
it  had  appeared  in  many  Southern  newspapers. 
When  I  finally  imprisoned  Andrews  on  General 
Sheridan's  order,  in  his  half  intoxicated  condition 
he  admitted  his  Confederate  sympathies. 

65 


FILE   VIIL 

Initial  trip  down  Chesapeake  Bay  after  blockade  run- 
ners and  contraband  dealers  and  goods,  incident- 
ally introducing  Terrence  R.  Quinn,  George  G. 
Nellis,  and  E.  W.  Andrews,  Jr. — A  description 
of  a  storm  on  the  Chesapeake. 

My  initial  trip  down  the  Chesapeake  Bay  after 
blockade-runners  was  made  under  the  following 
order: 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army   Corps, 

Baltimore,  Mch.  22,   1864. 
Special  Order  No.  y-^. 

2d  Lieut.  H.  B.  Smith,  5th  Regt.  N.  Y. 
Artillery,  is  hereby  ordered  to  proceed  down 

the  Eastern  shore,  Virginia,  and  arrest 

Jacobs  (citizen)  and  such  other  persons  as 
may  be  found  in  company  with  him.  If 
Lieut.  Smith  has  reason  to  believe  that  they 
are  engaged  in  the  practice  of  smuggling  or 
running  the  blockade,  and  seize  all  contraband 
goods  in  their  possession. 

Lieut.  Smith  will  seize  and  hold  the  follow- 
ing named  vessels,  viz. :  Schooners  "Trifle," 
"Frances   E.    Burgess,"   "Despatch,"   "Wash- 

66 


TRIP  AFTER  BLOCKADE  RUNNERS 

ington,"  and  "Glib,"  wherever  he  may  find 
them,  and  will  convey  them  to  the  nearest 
place  of  safety  within  our  lines. 

Lieut.  Smith  will  assume  command  of  the 
steam  tug  placed  at  his  disposal  by  orders 
from  this  office,  and  having  accomplished  the 
object  of  this  order  will  return  to  this  city, 
and  make  immediate  report  to  the  Command- 
ing General. 

Lieut.  Smith  is  permitted  to  use  his  discre- 
tion as  to  the  disposition  of  the  vessels  named 
in  case  of  emergency.     By  command  of 
Major  General  Lew  Wallace, 
(Signed)    Sam'l  B.  Lawrence, 

Asst.  Adj.  Gen'l. 

Quinn,  the  prisoner  referred  to  above  was  out  on 
parole  and  was  thus  able  to  pursue  his  business. 
He  was  in  the  habit  of  purchasing  much  of  his  sup- 
plies from  a  certain  ship  chandler  on  Pratt  street, 
a  friend  of  mine,  and,  in  fact,  a  good  Union  man, 
who  so  concealed  me  in  his  premises  that  I  learned 
much  of  Ouinn's  plans  from  his  (Quinn's)  own 
mouth;  and  this  order  was  to  enable  me  to  de- 
velop the  matters  he  had  disclosed. 

Blockade  running,  mail  carrying  and  "spy"  carry- 
ing, along  the  Potomac  and  Chesapeake,  was  car- 
ried on  in  such  a  cute  manner  as  to  necessitate  a 
peculiar  service  to  meet  and  stop  it.  Gun-boats  nor 
troops  could  baffle  it;  it  was  done  in  skiffs,  canoes 

67 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

(called  cunnas),  small  sail  boats  with  dirty  sails 
hardly  to  be  seen  in  broad  day  light.  These  little 
"creepers"  would  run  right  up  under  the  bows  of 
gun-boats  unnoticed ;  as  soon  as  shore  was  touched, 
if  a  plug  was  pulled  out  of  the  bottom  of  a  boat  it 
would  immediately  and  entirely  submerge  itself, 
until  wanted  for  use  again. 

The  price  for  carrying  one  person  across  the 
river  was  fifty  dollars  in  gold,  which  tempted  to  the 
business  the  most  dare  devil  men  on  either  side  of 
the  line.  As  to  merchandise,  the  plan  was  to 
"work"  the  local  storekeepers,  for  in  the  North  it 
was  perfectly  legitimate  to  allow  all  the  merchan- 
dise desired  to  go  to  the  line  just  on  the  borders  of 
territory  patrolled  by  us,  which  might  be  only  an 
hour's  sail  with  fair  wind  to  put  it  at  night  within 
the  reach  of  the  Confederates.  These  stores  were 
not  in  villages,  as  was  the  case  further  north,  but 
were  isolated,  very  frequently  on  a  cross  road  in 
the  woods. 

Oystering  was  a  favorite  cloak  for  blockade-run- 
ners. Sometimes  vessels  of  little  value  (three  hun- 
dred dollars  or  so)  were  loaded  in  Baltimore  with 
goods  and  purposely  swamped  on  the  south  side  of 
the  river  to  allow  the  Confederates  to  confiscate. 
I  was  "on  the  inside"  once  when  a  Captain  was 
offered  fifteen  thousand  dollars  to  allow  his  vessel 
to  be  loaded  and  to  i)ennit  its  destruction  when  in 
reach  of  the  Confederates. 
68 


TRIP  AFTER  BLOCKADE  RUNNERS 

There  was  some  delay  in  the  preparation  of  my 
written  report  which  caused  anxiety  at  headquar- 
ters, which  was  expressed  in  the  following : 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps, 

Baltimore,  Apl.  5,  1864. 
Colonel. — I  am  directed  by  Major  General 
Wallace  to  request  you  to  inform  him  what  is 
the    latest    information   you   have  concerning 
Lieut.   H.    B.    Smith,   5th   N.   Y.   Arty.,   who 
was   sent  with  a   squad  of  men  on  the  22d 
ult.   to  make   certain   seizures.      Please    state 
near  what  point  he  was  last  known  to  be. 
Resp'y  your  ob'd't  serv't, 
Sam'l  B.  Lawrence, 
A.  A.  G. 
To  Col.  Porter, 

Com'd'g  2d  Sep.  Brigade. 

The  above  I  find  among  my  papers.  I  cannot 
understand  it  in  view  of  the  fact  that  I  reported 
March  30th  (see  following),  and  was  appointed 
Chief  of  the  Secret  Service  by  General  Wallace  on 
April  3d.  The  years  are  many  since  then  and  it  is 
hard  to  remember  details,  but  my  present  theory  is 
that  as  General  Wallace  had  but  recently  assumed 
command,  the  Adjutant  General's  office  was  in  con- 
fusion. "I  am  directed  by  Major  General  Wallace" 
is  the  usual  language  for  an  Adjutant  General  to 
69 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

use ;  at  any  rate  my  report  is  dated  March  30th,  and 
I  was  interviewed  by  General  Wallace  on  April  2d, 
this  I  clearly  remember. 

Fort  McHenry,  Mch.  30,  1864. 
To  the  General  Commanding, 

8th  Army  Corps,  Middle  Department. 

General. — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  in 
compliance  with  Special  Order  No.  73,  Mch. 
22,  1864,  I  proceeded  with  a  guard  of  12  men 
on  board  the  steam  tug  "Adriatic,"  but  on  ac- 
count of  the  weather  did  not  leave  until  the 
morning  of  the  23d. 

I  was  alongside  the  Cutter  (Revenue)  and 
notified  the  officer  commanding  to  arrest  any 
of  the  vessels  named  in  my  order.  I  was 
afterwards  hailed,  and  ran  back  to  the  Cut- 
ter again,  and  learned  that  the  schooner 
"Frances  E.  Burgess,"  Capt.  J.  J.  Lewis,  had 
left  just  one-half  hour  before.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  the  22d,  she  came  in  and  just  touched 
at  the  wharf,  immediately  dropping  out  in  the 
stream.  This  last  fact,  connected  with  the 
previous  one,  also  the  fact  that  Quinn  was 
much  worried  about  the  "F.  E.  B."  led  me  to 
believe  that  the  "Burgess'  was  not  all  right, 
and  that  Captain  Lewis  had  learned  of  my 
moves  and  had  attempted  to  evade  me.  I 
made  chase  for  her. 

At  Hill's  Point  (below  the  Choptank  river) 
I  arrested  the  schooner  "Trifle,"  and  took  her 
in  tow  to  Point  Lookout.     By  her  papers  she 
70 


TERRENCE  R.  QUINN 

is  with  bonds  given  by  E.  R.  Quinn,  T.  R. 
Quinn,  and  George  G.  Nellis,  stated  in  her 
Hcense,  dated  Feb'y  3,  1864.  Her  enrollment 
dated  Feb'y  3d,  1864,  shows  that  T.  R.  Quinn, 
master,  is  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  and 
had  sworn  to  it,  when  he  was  then  on  his 
parole  as  being  a  British  subject. 

Her  crew  consisted  of  Captain  Seward, 
Farrell,  Reddick,  Zervicks,  and  Bailey,  deck 
hands.  Captain  Seward  has  acknowledged 
that  he  ran  the  blockade,  and  that  he  was  in 
Richmond  about  last  Christmas,  but  did  not 
go  on  this  vessel.  I  believe  the  balance  of  the 
crew  are  innocent  men.  I  found  Bailey  to  be 
of  great  service  to  me  on  the  balance  of  my 
trip. 

I  remained  at  Point  Lookout  on  the  night 
of  the  23d.  On  the  24th,  went  up  to  St. 
Mary's  river  for  a  harbor,  on  account  of  a 
heavy  blow.  On  the  evening  of  the  24th,  I 
started  for  and  arrived  at  Pocomoke  Sound 
(Accomac),  where  we  remained  that  night. 
On  the  25th,  went  into  Onancock  Creek, 
where  I  landed  with  eight  men,  and  sent  the 
Steamer  around  to  the  Pungateague  river  to 
wait  for  us.  In  the  evening  we  arrived  at  the 
house  of  one  T.  W.  Jacobs,  on  the  sea  side. 
We  entered  and  searched  his  house ;  next 
morning  we  learned  our  error,  and  although 
he  is  undoubtedly  a  Rebel,  I  released  him. 

We  then  made  our  way  to  the  house  of  one 

71 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

William  E.  Jacobs,  on  the  bay  side,  where  we 
arrived  at  3  P.  M.,  on  the  26th.  At  this 
place  I  found  the  schooner  "Frances  E.  Bur- 
gess"— Captain  Lewis.  I  arrested  Mr.  Jacobs, 
and  found  him  to  be  the  man  engaged  with 
Quinn.  I  searched  his  house  and  barns  but 
found  nothing  contraband,  as  they  had  been 
duly  warned  by  the  arrival  of  the  "Bur- 
gess." 

Captain  Lewis  stated  that  he  left  Baltimore 
on  the  nth  of  March,  and  arrived  at  Acco- 
mac  Creek  on  the  14th,  and  said  that  was  his 
last  trip.     Mr.  Jacobs  made  same  statement. 

Captain  Lewis  was  arrested  about  last  June, 
about  the  same  time  that  Quinn  was  arrested. 
He  said  that  he  was  caught  in  the  act  of  leav- 
ing the  Eastern  shore  with  contraband  goods 
and  that  his  intention  was  to  run  the  block- 
ade ;  he  said  he  was  examined  by  Captain  E. 
W.  Andrews,  and  afterwards  released  after 
taking  the  oath  of  allegiance. 

Both  Jacobs  and  Lewis  say  that  Lieut. 
Andrews,  Capt.  Andrews'  son,  was  to  go  into 
business  on  the  Eastern  shore ;  that  they  en- 
gaged two  stores  for  the  purpose,  but  that  An- 
drews did  not  come  down  there. 

Mr.  Jacobs  said  that  Quinn  had  often  re- 
marked that  he  could  get  anything  done  at 
Fort  McHenry  with  the  Adjutant  General. 
At  first  both  Jacobs  and  Lewis  denied  all 
knowledge  of  any  man  named  Andrews. 
72 


TERRENCE  R.  QUINN 

Jacobs  said  that  J.  J.  Hodge  (the  writer 
of  some  of  the  letters  found  in  Quinn's  pos- 
session) was  arrested  on  the  Eastern  shore 
about  the  same  time  that  he  and  Quinn  were, 
on  the  charge  of  attempting  to  go  south ; 
said  that  he  heard  Quinn  speak  of  letters  that 
he  had  from  Hodge,  but  did  not  know  their 
contents.  Quinn  was  the  first  man  that  em- 
ployed him  (Lewis)  after  his  release,  and 
said  it  was  Quinn's  own  seeking  (to  employ 
a  man  of  that  character  appears  rather  sus- 
picious). 

The  creek  where  we  found  the  "Burgess" 
is  one  that  no  steamer  can  enter,  or  even  a 
sailing  vessel,  unless  piloted  by  an  old  resi- 
denter  of  that  neighborhood.  The  creek  is 
very  crooked  and  the  channel  is  very  narrow. 

All  the  people  about  that  country  seem  to  be 
very  closely  united  and  watch  a  stranger's 
movements  very  closely.  On  the  evening  of 
the  27th,  we  left  this  creek  with  the  schooner, 
and  on  the  afternoon  of  the  28th,  we  arrived 
in  the  Pungateague,  and  started  on  the 
steamer,  towing  the  schooner  for  Point  Look- 
out, where  we  arrived  at  9  P.  M. 

On  the  morning  of  the  29th  we  left  the 
Point  with  the  two  schooners,  but  afterwards 
let  go  the  "Burgess,"  and  sent  her  up  under 
sail  to  Baltimore,  where  she  arrived  at  4 
P.  M.,  after  encountering  a  very  heavy  sea. 
We  arrived  here  at  9.20  P.  M. 

73 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

I  could  find  nothing-  of  the  schooners'  "Des- 
patch" or  "GHb,"  I  made  many  inquiries  for 
the  schooner  "Washington,"  but  could  not 
find  her. 

On  our  way  back  to  the  city  Captain  Sew- 
ard, of  the  "Trifle"  said  that  there  was 
a  sign  "Washington"  painted  on  it,  in  the 
hold  of  the  "Trifle,"  which  I  afterwards  found 
to  be  true.  I  think  by  the  actions  of  all  con- 
nected, that  "Washington"  was  sometimes 
substituted  for  "Trifle" ;  this  sign  was  hid 
away  and  only  by  accident  found. 

Both  the  "Burgess"  and  "Trifle"  have  been 
confiscated  before,  two  or  three  times. 

I  have  this  day  been  on  the  Cutter,  twice, 
to  ascertain  to  a  certainty  if  the  "Burgess" 
left  on  the  23d  inst.,  and  the  officers  say  they 
will  swear  she  passed  out  on  that  day ;  that 
she  was  in  here  I  know.  I  then  went  to  the 
Custom  House  and  found  that  she  did  not 
enter  or  clear  on  that  trip  but  left  without 
any  papers,  and  did  not  stay  in  Port  over  24 
hours. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Very  respy.  your  obdt.  servt., 
(Signed)    H.  B.  Smith, 
Lieut.  5th  N.  Y.  H.  A. 

Lieutenant  Andrews  and  George  G.  Nellis,  "tied 
up"  to  Quinn  and  Lewis,  the  blockade-runners,  had 
been,  respectively,  Provost  and  Assistant  Provost 

74 


STORM  ON  THE   CHESAPEAKE 

Marshals  at  Fort  McHenry,  prior  to  the  assignment 
of  Captain  Hohnes  and  myself  to  those  offices. 

It  pleases  me  to  note  how  vivid  my  memory  is, 
after  forty-seven  years,  of  the  incidents  connected 
with  this  expedition.  Our  party  of  eight,  after 
landing  in  Accomac,  split  up,  and  straggled  over 
the  country  about  ten  miles,  through  fields  and  tim- 
ber, in  snow  and  slush  nearly  ankle  deep,  avoiding 
the  highways  and  stopping  only  at  negro  huts  to 
inquire  our  way.  We  arrived  at  T.  W.  Jacobs' 
house  quite  late  and  began  our  search ;  right  here 
I  want  to  say  our  search  was  orderly,  endeavoring 
not  to  unnecessarily  annoy. 

About  midnight  a  great  commotion  was  raised 
outside  the  house  by  the  tramping  of  horses,  rattling 
of  sabres,  and  loud  voices.  We  were  surrounded 
by  a  troop  of  cavalry  (our  cavalry).  They  were 
very  excited,  and  they  threatened  us  with  every- 
thing, until  I  took  the  Commandant  aside  and  made 
him  awar.e  of  who  we  were ;  even  then  he  soundly 
upbraided  me  for  giving  him  such  a  scare.  He 
finally  departed. 

The  next  day  we  went  over  to  the  Chesapeake 
Bay  side  of  the  peninsula.  When  we  arrived  there 
we  divided  into  two  parties,  in  order  to  approach 
the  harbor  from  two  directions.  When  we  arrived 
on  the  blufif  (about  twenty  feet  above  water)  my 
party  of  four  was  first  to  discover  that  there  were 
a  number  of  sailing  vessels  at  anchor  in  the  little 

75 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

bay.  What  to  do  was  the  question.  I  determined 
that  we  four  must  capture  the  whole  fleet.  Which 
we  did  in  this  way :  As  quietly  as  possible  we  pos- 
sessed ourselves  of  one  vessel  and  from  it,  under 
the  persuasive  influence  of  our  revolvers,  we  com- 
pelled the  men  on  all  the  other  vessels  to  go  below 
deck.  Then  we  searched  the  vessels  in  detail,  de- 
taining only  the  "Frances  E.  Burgess." 

This  harbor  was  an  ideal  place  for  such  "traders," 
i.e.,  blockade-runners.  It  was  perfectly  land-locked, 
could  not  be  seen  from  the  bay,  and  was  very  hard 
to  get  in  or  out  of;  it  was  impassable  for  gunboats, 
and  so  it  was  well  chosen  for  the  business. 

The  Chesapeake  Bay  and  its  tributaries  are  in- 
dented almost  continuously  with  smaller  estuaries, 
which  make  excellent  hiding  places.  Beautiful 
places  for  residence,  and  likely  spots  for  romance. 

While  laying  at  Point  Lookout  on  our  way  home 
a  severe  March  storm  came  up,  dreadful  to  a  land 
lubber  like  me.  The  point  is  where  the  Potomac 
empties  into  the  Chesapeake.  Storms  are  felt  there 
nearly  as  greatly  as  at  Old  Point.  It  blew  so  hard 
I  feared  it  would  blow  us  over  onto  the  wharf. 
The  water  was  up  to  the  wharf's  surface,  and  there 
was  no  sleep  for  us  that  night.  Next  morning, 
when  we  started  for  Baltimore  (ninety  miles 
away),  as  we  were  rounding  the  Point  a  big  boiling 
sea  took  the  yawl  of  the  "Burgess,"  davits  and  all, 
throwing  it  high  in  the  air.  But  to  turn  back  spelled 
76 


STORM  ON   THE  CHESAPEAKE 

death.  Our  pilot  was  Captain  Cannon,  an  old  bay 
pilot.  He  did  not  conceal  that  he  was  frightened. 
He  said  he  never  had  seen  such  weather.  We 
breasted  that  storm  for  about  twelve  hours.  The 
only  encouragement  from  Captain  Cannon  was  that 
if  our  boat  could  live  until  we  got  under  the  influ- 
ence of  North  Point  we  would  be  all  right ;  we 
lived. 

The  heavens  were  never  more  unkind  in  appear- 
ance. I  did  not  spend  much  time  in  gazing  that 
way,  for  the  awful  waves  occupied  me.  Captain 
Cannon  kept  the  vessel  as  near  head  on  as  possible, 
first  on  top  of  the  wave  and  then  in  a  trough  of  the 
sea.  Half  the  time  our  screw  was  revolving  in  the 
air.  Everything  loose  on  deck  washed  away.  I 
never  had  a  better  chance  to  contemplate  my  past 
and  future  than  in  that  twelve  hours.  I  remember 
my  great  regret  was  that  if  we  should  go  down,  no 
one  could  know  what  became  of  us,  for  I  had  not 
reported  at  Point  Lookout  and  we  were  unknown 
on  the  peninsula.  The  severity  of  this  storm  became 
a  matter  of  history.  Seagoing  steamers  remained 
tied  to  their  wharves.  The  shores  of  the  Chesa- 
peake Bay  were  strewn  with  wrecks.  The  "Adria- 
tic" (our  vessel)  was  iron  bottomed  and  drew  six 
feet  of  water.  The  Chesapeake  can  kick  up  a  sea, 
give  it  a  northeaster,  that  would  gratify  the  most 
hungry  tar. 

When  we  were  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Severn 

77 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

river  we  saw  the  steamer  "Nellie  Pentz"  headed  out, 
her  bow  tossing  up  and  down  in  the  air  like  a  cork. 
She  did  not  dare  come  out,  to  certain  wreck,  dared 
not  turn  around,  so  she  backed  up  the  river  again. 
When  we  got  under  the  lee  of  North  Point  I  became 
courageous  and  generous ;  off  towards  the  west  was 
in  view  a  schooner,  on  the  rocks.  Her  crew  of  four 
men  were  in  the  rigging.  I  proposed  to  Captain 
Cannon  to  rescue  them.  He  said  it  was  impossible, 
as  our  boat  drew  more  water  than  theirs  and  would 
be  wrecked  before  we  could  reach  them.  How- 
ever, we  notified  the  revenue  cutter  and  they  were 
rescued.  When  we  arrived  at  Baltimore  (nine 
o'clock  P.M.)  the  wharves  were  afloat.  The  big 
Bay  Line  steamers,  sea-going  vessels,  had  not  left 
the  wharf.  They  had  not  dared  to  venture  out  in 
the  storm  our  little  eighty- foot  craft  had  passed 
through. 


78 


.m.\J()K-(;exj;k.\l  li-:\v  wall.nce. 


FILE    IX. 

General  Wallace  assumes  command  of  the  Middle  De- 
partment— General  Schenck's  comments  on  Mary- 
land— Colonel  Woolley. 

General  Wallace  assumed  command  of  the  Middle 
Department,  8th  Army  Corps,  March  22d,  1864. 
The  Department  headquarters  were  located  in  a 
large  mansion  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Calvert 
and  Fayette  Streets,  just  opposite  Battle  Monument. 
I  can  give  no  better  description  of  the  Department 
than  to  quote  General  Schenck,  who  formerly  com- 
manded there,  in  his  words  to  General  Wallace : 

"Your  trouble  will  have  origin  in  Baltimore. 
Baltimore  viewed  socially  is  peculiar.  There  is  more 
culture  to  the  square  block  there  than  in  Boston ; 
actual  culture.  The  question  of  the  war  divided 
the  old  families,  but  I  was  never  able  to  discover 
the  dividing  line.  Did  I  put  a  heavy  hand  on  one 
of  the  Secessionists,  a  delegation  of  influential 
Unionists  at  once  hurried  to  the  President  and 
begged  the  culprit  ofif.  The  most  unfortunate  thing 
in  connection  with  the  Department  and  its  man- 
agement  is   that   it    is   only   a   pleasant   morning's 

79 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

jaunt  by  rail  from  Baltimore  to  Washington.  There 
is  another  thing  you  should  know,  without  being 
left  to  find  it  out  experimentally,  Baltimore  is  head- 
quarters for  a  traffic  in  supplies  for  the  Rebel  arm- 
ies the  extent  of  which  is  simply  incredible.  It  is 
an  industry  the  men  have  nothing  to  do  with.  They 
know  better,  and  leave  it  entirely  to  the  women, 
who  are  cunning  beyond  belief,  and  bold  on  account 
of  their  sex.  They  invent  underground  lines,  too 
many  and  too  subtly  chosen  to  be  picked  up  by  the 
shrewdest  detectives." 

General  Wallace  exactly  ''fitted  the  niche,"  a  sol- 
dier, lawyer,  statesman,  and  an  even  tempered  man. 
He  so  ably  administered  the  Department  as  to  over- 
come all  obstacles.  One  permanent  order  was  that 
every  prisoner  should  have  a  hearing  at  once.  If 
evidence  would  stand  law,  the  prisoner  was  to  be 
held ;  if  not,  to  be  at  once  released.  The  Paine  case 
is  an  apt  illustration.  I  felt  sure  I  could  get  evi- 
dence that  he  was  a  spy,  but  had  it  not  at  hand  and 
so  had  to  let  him  go  (I  will  tell  about  this  later  on). 
There  was  never  a  suit  for  false  arrest  during  Gen- 
eral Wallace's  administration. 

One  of  my  duties  was  to  collate  the  evidence  in 
cases  for  trial.  I  learned  what  was  evidence.  I 
was  a  witness  almost  constantly  before  courts  mar- 
tial and  military  commissions.  It  was  good  expe- 
rience for  me  and  it  has  served  me  ever  after  in 
civil  life.  I  am  proud  to  say  (but  perhaps  ought 
So 


GEN.    WALLACE    ASSUMES    COMMAND 

not  to)  that  General  Wallace  gave  me  credit  for 
aiding  in  his  able  administration  of  the  Department. 

No  better  man  could  have  been  found  for  Provost 
Marshal  General  than  Colonel  Woolley.  He  was  a 
soldier  and  a  thorough  business  man. 

The  Provost  Marshal  General's  Department  was 
located  on  the  southwest  corner  of  Camden  and 
Eutaw  Streets.  It  was  in  a  handsome  three-story 
brick  building  and  had  a  massive  marble  entrance. 
Adjoining  it  was  what  had  formerly  been  a  slave 
pen.  Between  the  corner  building  and  the  slave 
pen  there  was  an  open  court  which  had  been  used 
for  the  slave  mart.  The  slave  pen  we  used  for  our 
prison  purposes.  The  first  floor  of  the  main  house 
was  used  as  our  public  offices.  The  second  floor 
was  General  Woolley's  headquarters.  The  third 
floor  was  my  headquarters.  In  the  rear  of  the  main 
front  corner  building  was  a  three-story  brick  ex- 
tension, running  back  about  a  hundred  feet  (to  an 
alley)  in  which  were  quartered  the  troops  (our 
guards).  The  buildings  were  admirably  constructed 
and  centrally  located  for  our  purposes. 

From  now  on  I  was  Assistant  Provost  Marshal 
General  and  Chief  of  the  Secret  Service.  I  had  a 
corps  of  about  forty  (men  and  women)  under  my 
direction.  To  illustrate  my  general  lines  of  work 
I  will  give  copies  of  some  memoranda  which  I  have. 
To  give  all  would  take  more  room  than  I  can  spare. 
In  looking  these  memoranda  over  the  greatest  grati- 
8i 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

fication  I  feel  comes  from  the  evident  fact  that  I 
was  not  a  drone,  but  tried  to  do  my  duty.  And  fifty 
years  further  along  in  our  nation's  history  it  may 
be  a  satisfaction  to  my  then  living  relatives  to 
know  it. 


82 


I'ylAA^'.d^ 


JOHN    WOOLLEY. 


FILE    X. 

Here  begins  my  service  as  an  assistant  provost  marshal 
of  the  department  and  chief  of  the  Secret  Service 
— Confederate  General  Winder's  detectives — E.  H. 
Smith,  special  officer,  War  Department — Mrs. 
Mary  E.  Sawyer,  Confederate  mail  carrier — 
W.  V.  Kremer's  report  on  the  "Disloyals"  north 
of  Baltimore. 

The  Secret  Service,  as  its  name  implies,  is  the 
most  confidential  arm  of  the  service.  Its  informa- 
tion intellig-ently  guides  the  commanding  general. 
It  gives  him  to  know  of  the  conduct  of  the  enemy 
and  discloses  weaknesses,  if  any  exist,  in  his  own 
armour.  There  is  always  a  "cloud  of  mystery" 
thrown  around  it  by  outsiders.  But  its  pursuit,  on 
the  inside,  is  not  that  of  romance,  but  simply  of 
cold  facts ;  it  deals  with  business  propositions.  In 
telling  my  stories,  not  being  a  story  writer,  I  shall 
tell  plain  facts,  leaving  the  reader  to  clothe  them 
with  the  glamour  that  a  fiction  writer  would  usually 
apply.  Were  I  to  attempt  to  tell  something  of  all 
my  many  stories  it  would  weary  a  reader ;  so  I  will 
try  to  select  some  that  are  really  historic,  or  inter- 
esting from  their  unusual  character. 

83 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

Provost  Marshal's  Office, 
Fort  McHenry,  Apl.  lo,  1864. 
Lieut.  H.  B.  Smith, 

Asst.  Provost  Marshal  8th  Army  Corps. 
I  have  just  been  informed  by  Mrs.  Myers 
that   a   detective    of    General    Winder's   staflf 
from  Richmond,  Virginia,  is  in  the  city  in  dis- 
guise. 

Respy., 

J.  W.  Holmes, 
Capt.  and  Provost  Marshal. 

General  J.  H.  Winder  commanded  the  Depart- 
ment of  Henrico,  headquarters  at  Richmond,  Va. 
Many  of  his  detectives  were  Marylanders,  among 
them  were  John  Lutz,  Wash  Goodrich,  T.  Wood- 
hall,  Taylor,  and  William  Byrne. 

I  perfectly  imitated  General  John  H.  Winder's 
signature  to  passes  which  we  used  with  success. 
I  had  a  close  imitation  of  his  stationery;  only  an 
expert  could  detect  our  passes.  If  he  is  living  I 
am  sure  he  will  pardon  the  liberty  I  took,  for  it  was 
all  in  the  game. 

Following  is  one  of  General  Winder's  genuine 
passes : 

Headquarters,  Department  of  Henrico, 

Richmond,  Va.,  March  26th,  1864. 
Mrs.  James  Gordon  &  (3)  children,  a  citi- 
zen of  Great  Britain,  having  sworn,  in  good 

84 


CHIEF  OF  SECRET  SERVICE 

faith,  not  to  reveal,  either  directly  or  indirect- 
ly, any  information  that  may  benefit  the  en- 
emy, is  hereby  permitted  to  pass  beyond  the 
limits  of  the  Confederate  States,  by  the  route 
herein  designated :  and  none  other.  Strictly 
forbid  to  pass  through  General  Lee's  lines. 
Go  by  the  lower  Rappahannock. 

This  passport  is  given,  subject  in  all  cases 
to  the  approval,  delays  and  restrictions  of 
military  commanders  through  whose  lines  the 
persons  or  person  may  pass. 

By  command  of  the  Secretary  of  War, 
Jno.  H.  Winder, 
General  Comdg. 
Hair:  light. 
Eyes :  blue. 
Age:  Z3. 

Complexion :  florid. 
Height:  

Our  sources  of  information  were  numerous,  as 
our  own  ofiicers  were  always  on  duty,  and  officers 
in  other  departments  worked  in  conjunction  with 
us,  thus  forming  an  extended  net  work. 

Baltimore,  April  14,  1864. 
Lt.  Smith, 

Sir. — I  am  very  unfortunate  in  always  com- 
ing when  you  are  out.  How  has  Kremer  pro- 
gressed with  the  case,  anything  been  done? 
I  go  to  Washington  per  order  of  the  Secre- 

85 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

tary  of  War.  I  am  obliged  to  go  to  New 
York  within  two  weeks.  I  wish  the  case  here 
might  be  disposed  of  before  I  go  to  New 
York.  Would  you  oblige  me  by  writing  P.  O. 
Box  62,  Washington? 

Very  respy,  your  obdt  servt., 

E.  H.  Smith, 
Special  Officer,  War  Dept. 

The  following  is  Kremer's  report  of  progress : 

United  States  Military  Telegraph, 
War  Department, 

April  17,  1864. 
H.  B.  Smith: 

Two  men  answering  description  but  under 
different  names  left  here  for  Leonardstown 
on  the  i6th.  Shall  I  follow?  If  so,  answer 
and  send  White. 

W.  V.  Kremer. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps, 

April  22,  1864. 
Special  Order  No.  43. 

Lieut.  H.  B.  Smith,  5th  N.  Y.  Arty.,  will 
proceed  to  Washington  with  Mrs.  Mary  E. 
Sawyer,  Rebel  mail  carrier,  turn  her  over  to 
Supt.  of  Old  Capitol  Prison,  taking  receipt  for 
prisoner.  Will  then  deliver  to  Hon.  C.  A. 
Dana,  Asst.  Secy,  of  War,  all  the  papers  in 
86 


CHIEF  OF  SECRET  SERVICE 

her  case,  after  which  he  will  report  without 
delay  at  these  headquarters. 

Quartermasters  will  furnish  transportation. 
By  command  of  Major  General  Lew  Wal- 
lace. 

John  Woolley, 
Col.  and  Provost  Marshal. 

Persons  were  not  disturbed  in  the  enjoyment  of 
their  opinions  so  long  as  they  did  not  become  ac- 
tively disloyal,  but  it  was  my  duty  to  learn  who 
were  disloyal  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  them  under 
surveillance.  The  following  report  I  put  in  to  il- 
lustrate that  character  of  work: 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 
Office  Provost  Marshal, 
Baltimore,  Apl.  24,  1864. 
H.  B.  Smith, 

Lieut,  and  Chief: 
I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  I  left  Balti- 
more as  per  orders  and  proceeded  to  Reisters- 
town  and  stopped  at  a  tavern  and  was  ac- 
costed by  a  citizen  who  told  me  there  were  de- 
tectives in  the  house,  and  that  he  knew  I  was 
from  the  other  side,  and  sent  me  to  a  woman 
named  Mrs.  Hofman,  who  keeps  a  hotel  there. 
I  went  to  her  house  and  represented  myself  as 
a   Rebel   captain. 

I  had  been  there  a  short  time  when  Mrs. 

87 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

Hofman  took  me  upstairs  in  a  bedroom  that 
was  in  the  back  part  of  the  house  and  told  me 
if  the  detectives  came  upstairs,  to  get  out  of 
the  back  window  and  take  a  horse  that  she 
would  have  saddled  ready  for  me ;  she  said 
she  did  not  care  for  the  horse  as  the  citizens 
would  make  it  up  to  her. 

The  detectives  did  not  come  upstairs,  but  a 
man  named  C.  L.  Alder  came  up  to  the  room 
and  told  me  to  get  ready  and  come  down 
stairs,  that  he  had  a  buggy  ready  to  see  me 
safe  and  that  he  would  die  before  I  should  be 
taken  and  that  he  had  helped  many  of  the 
Rebels  out  of  just  such  scrapes  by  taking 
them  to  the  Rebel  lines. 

We  went  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from 
Reistertown  and  stopped  at  the  house  of  Dr. 
J.  Larsh,  and  held  a  conversation  with  him 
and  another  man  that  I  could  not  learn  the 
name  of ;  about  the  best  plan  for  me  to  adopt 
was  to  keep  away  from  the  detectives ;  he, 
the  Doctor,  told  me  that  he  was  very  busy  or 
he  would  take  me  safe  through  himself,  but 
told  Alder  to  take  me  to  Charles  T.  Cockey's, 
and  that  he  would  see  me  all  right. 

We  then  went  to  C.  T,  Cockey's  and  Alder 
explained  to  him  who  I  was  and  Mr.  Cockey 
then  introduced  me  to  John  C.  Brown,  of  Bus- 
son  Parish,  La.,  and  lately  manager  of  the 
Rebel  Secretary  of  War's  plantation.  Mr. 
Cockey  told  me  to  remain  there  all  night  and 
88 


MRS.  SAWYER,  MAIL  CARRIER 

he  would  see  me  safe,  as  he  was  engaged  in 
the  business  ever  since  the  war  commenced, 
and  had  run  off  a  great  many  men  to  the 
Rebel  army;  in  fact  he  said  that  men  from 
all  parts  of  the  country  were  sent  to  him  to 
take  across  the  lines,  and  that  he  always  went 
into  the  Rebel  lines  with  them. 

Among  the  rest  that  he  had  taken  across 
was  Capt.  Sims  and  Capt.  Beard  and  Gus 
Williamson.  He  said  when  General  McClel- 
lan  was  following  Lee  into  Maryland,  a  man 
came  to  him  from  Washington  and  gave  him 
the  number  of  men  that  McClellan  had,  and 
the  direction  he  was  going  to  take,  and  that 
he  went  to  Frederick,  and  gave  the  informa- 
tion to  Lee ;  and  would,  he  said,  do  so  again, 
if  it  would  do  any  good  to  the  Southern  cause. 

Cockey  receives  papers  regularly  from 
Richmond.  He  also  said  that  Capt.  Harry 
Gilmor  stops  at  his  house  whenever  he  comes 
over  the  lines,  and  that  a  great  many  men 
from  the  South  come  to  his  house,  and  he  al- 
ways helps  them.  I  remained  at  his  house  all 
night,  and  listened  to  him  and  John  C.  Brown 
cursing  the  government  for  everything  they 
could  think  of,  and  telling  what  they  would  do 
if  the  Rebel  army  would  come  into  Maryland 
again.  C.  T.  Cockey  was  also  engaged  at  the 
time  of  Lee's  raid  into  Pennsylvania ;  he  took 
men  to  the  Rebel  army  and  was  in  the  Rebel 
lines  several  times,  and  gave  them  all  the  in- 

89 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

formation  that  he  could  get  hold  of  that  would 
do  them  any  good. 

Mr.  J.  C.  Brown  gave  me  the  name  of  his 
brother,  Benj.  F.  Brown,  of  Frederick,  Md., 
agent  for  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad 
Co.,  and  in  charge  of  the  government  ware- 
house which  he  surrendered  to  the  Rebels 
without  endeavoring  to  destroy  the  goods,  or 
to  get  them  out  of  the  way.  J.  C.  Brown 
told  me  to  go  to  his  brother  and  let  him  know 
who  I  was  and  everything  would  be  right, 
and  that  he  would  meet  me  there  with  a  lot  of 
recruits,  and  a  Rebel  mail  to  take  south. 

The  next  day,  21st  April,  I  expressed  a  wish 
to  go  into  Pennsylvania  for  a  few  days,  and 
promised  to  meet  Mr.  Brown  in  Frederick. 
Mv.  C.  T.  Cockey  took  me  in  his  buggy  to  T. 
D.  Cockey  of  'T'  at  Ellingown,  near  Texas, 
on  the  Northern  Central  Railroad,  where  I 
met  T.  D.  Cockey,  of  "I". 

T.  Deye  Cockey  and  Philip  Fendel,  who  are 
violent  Rebels,  say  they  have  been  running 
men  off  ever  since  the  war  commenced.  And 
T.  Deye  Cockey  says  that  he  has  been  in  the 
Rebel  lines  several  times,  and  at  one  time  took 
three  recruits  from  Harford  County  to  Han- 
over Junction,  when  the  Rebels  were  there, 
and  gave  them  all  the  information  he  could. 

Richard  Worthington,  a  very  wealthy  man, 
whom  I  met,  offered  me  a  horse,  and  any  as- 
sistance in  his  power,  to  enable  me  to  escape, 

90 


\ 


KREMER'S  REPORT  ON  "DISLOYALS" 

and  stated  that  he  had  rented  his  farm  out, 
and  was  endeavoring-  to  get  his  property  fixed 
in  such  a  way  that  the  damned  negro  govern- 
ment could  not  confiscate  it.  He  was  going  to 
leave  the  damned  Yankees  and  go  to  Canada, 
and  from  there  to  Nassau,  and  take  a  vessel 
and  go  to  the  Confederacy,  where  he  would  be 
free  to  do  as  he  pleased.  He  said  he  had  in- 
vested a  portion  of  his  money  in  Confederate 
bonds,  and  only  wished  he  had  a  chance  to  in- 
vest more  in  them,  as  the  greenbacks,  or  Yan- 
kee shinplasters  were  not  worth  a  damn. 

These  men  were  under  the  impression  that 
I  was  the  Rebel  Capt.  Harry  Thompson,  who, 
as  it  was  published,  had  made  his  escape  from 
a  Federal  prison.  I  told  them  I  had  escaped 
from  the  Old  Capitol. 

Very  respy., 

Wm.  V.  Kremer, 
U.  S.  D.  8th  A.  C. 

You  will  notice  Mr.  Kremer  speaks  of  T.  D. 
Cockey  of  "I."  That  is  a  common  way  in  Mary- 
land and  Virginia  to  designate  the  lineage  of  that 
T.  D.  Cockey,  to  obviate  confounding  him  with 
some  other  T.  D.  Cockey. 

Later  on,  in  July,  when  the  Confederate  Army 
swung  around  north  and  east  of  Baltimore,  the  in- 
formation contained  in  Mr.  Kremer's  report  became 
very  valuable  to  us. 


91 


FILE   XI. 

Mrs.  Key  Howard,  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  author 
of  "The  Star  Spangled  Banner,"  forgetting  her 
honor,  prepared  to  carry  a  Confederate  mail  to 
"Dixie" — Miss  Martha  Dungan — Trip  on  the 
steam  tug  "Ella" — Schooner  "V/.  H.  Travers"  and 
cargo  captured — James  A.  Winn,  a  spy — Trip  to 
Frederick,  Maryland. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps, 

Baltimore,  Apl.  28,  1864. 

Special  Order  No.  48. 

Lieut.  H.  B.  Smith,  Chief  Officer,  Secret 
Service  Bureau,  8th  Army  Corps,  will  pro- 
ceed to  Washington,  D.  C,  in  charge  of 
prisoners.  Miss  Martha  Dungan  and  Mrs. 
Key  Howard. 

On  arrival  you  will  deliver  prisoners  to 
Mr.  Wm.  P.  Wood,  in  charge  of  Old  Capitol 
Prison  and  receive  receipt  for  same,  after 
which  you  will  report  to  Hon.  C.  A.  Dana, 
Asst.  Secy,  of  War,  deliver  all  papers  in  pris- 
oners' cases  and  return  to  these  headquarters 
without  delay. 

92 


:\IRS.  KEY  HOWARD,  MAIL  CARRIER 

Quartermasters  will  furnish  transportation. 
By  command  of  Major  General  Lew  Wal- 
lace. 

John  Woolley, 
Lt.  Col.  and  Provost  Marshal. 

Here  is  a  sad  incident  illustrating  what  Hamlet 
meant  when  he  said :  "To  what  base  uses  may  we 
return,  Horatio!"  Mrs.  Key  Howard,  a  lineal  de- 
scendant of  Francis  Scott  Key,  author  of  the  "Star 
Spangled  Banner,"  having  obtained  a  personal  pass 
direct  from  Mr.  Lincoln,  permitting  her  to  pass  our 
lines,  had  actually  gathered  a  Confederate  mail,  to 
carry  through,  under  its  protection.  Honor  of  a 
truly  "Blue  Blood?" — it  was  absent. 

The  pass  was  written  on  a  plain  card,  and  read : 

Pass  Mrs.  Key  Howard  through  the  lines. 

A.  Lincoln. 

I  might  have  retained  the  card,  but  turned  it  in 
with  the  case.  Mrs.  Howard,  in  discussing  with 
me  the  lack  of  honor  in  so  abusing  a  great  favor, 
became  very  angry ;  she  said :  "Lincoln  was  vulgar, 
not  a  polished  man ;  he  sat  with  legs  crossed 
while  talking  to  me."  Young  and  inexperienced 
as  I  was,  I  was  so  forcibly  struck  with  the  shallow- 
ness of  pretended  culture  that  I  have  many  times 
told  the  story  to  illustrate. 

I  have  no  doubt  that  Mrs.  Howard  traded  upon 

93 


BETWEEN    TPiE    LINES 

her  family  name  with  President  Lincohi.  He  un- 
doubtedly trusted  her,  believing  that  she  had  honor 
in  her  composition. 

Blockade  running  schemes  were  without  limit  as 
to  variety  or  manner  of  evasion.  Vessels  were 
loaded  in  Baltimore,  clearing  for  any  port.  Trad- 
ing schooners  were  loaded,  taking  shipments  for 
various  stores  on  the  rivers  and  bays  of  the  Chesa- 
peake Bay ;  some  of  the  shipments  would  be  honest 
transactions,  but  others  would  be  especially  designed 
for  Confederate  consumption. 

In  April,  1864,  the  schooner  "Wm.  H.  Travers" 
(Captain  Rice)  had  been  under  surveillance.  She 
was  loaded  at  Baltimore  with  a  mixed  cargo,  part 
of  which  was  of  honest  shipments.  I  learned  that 
it  was  intended  to  swamp  the  vessel  within  reach 
of  the  Confederates,  thus  permitting  them  to  take 
the  entire  cargo  regardless  of  ownership.  I  al- 
lowed its  loading  and  permitted  the  captain  to  leave 
port  with  her,  but  after  she  got  well  down  the 
stream  I  overhauled  her  with  the  steam  tug  "Ella," 
and  brought  her  back  to  Baltimore.  Her  cargo  was 
worth  about  six  thousand  dollars.  Mr.  Blackistone, 
of  St.  Mary's  County,  was  the  guilty  party. 

Depot,  Quartermaster's  Office, 
Baltimore,  Md.,  April  30,  1864. 
Captain, 

Steam  Tug  Ella : 
You  will  proceed  with  your  tug  under  the 

04 


MRS.  KEY  HOWARD,  MAIL  CARRIER 

orders  of  Lt.  H.  B.  Smith,  and  render  such 
service  as  he  may  require ;  after  performing 
those  duties  you  will  return  to  Boston  wharf 
and  report  to  me.  Respectfully, 

A.  M.  Cum  MINGS, 
Chief  Quartermaster. 


Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps, 

Baltimore,  May  4,  1864. 

H.  B.  Smith, 

Lt.  Comdg.  Detective  Corps. 
Lieutenant. — You  will  please  order  the 
guard  in  charge  of  the  schooner  "W.  H. 
Travers"  to  remove  and  put  her  in  such  posi- 
tion at  Boston  Wharf  as  will  not  interfere 
with  the  vessels  in  the  government  service  at 
the  wharf,  and  not  to  interfere  in  any  way 
with  or  be  in  the  way  of  the  vessels  in  pub- 
lic service. 

I   have  addressed   a   note   to  the   Quarter- 
master asking  to  be  allowed  the  privilege  of 
unloading  the  vessel  at  the  wharf. 
Very  respy, 

Your  obdt.  servt., 

John  Woolley, 
Lt.  Col.  and  Provost  Marshal. 


95 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps, 

Baltimore,  May  ii,  1864. 
Lieut.  Col.  Woolley, 
Provost  Marshal. 

Colonel. — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  I 
have  completed  the  discharge  of  the  goods  on 
board  the  schooner  "W.  H.  Travers"  to  the 
shippers,  excepting  those  named  on  the  en- 
closed list. 

I  enclose  herewith  all  the  papers  in  con- 
nection with  the  case,  two  lists,  one  of  goods 
not  on  the  manifest,  and  one  of  goods  not  per- 
mitted, but  on  the  manifest.  I  also  enclose  a 
note  from  Mr.  Mcjilton,  clerk  of  the  Custom 
House,  showing  that  some  transactions  there 
in  this  case  are  not  all  right. 

Mr.  Mcjilton,  the  Surveyor  of  the  Port, 
stated  that  he  would  not  grant  a  permit  for 
percussion  caps,  unless  by  permission  of  the 
military  authorities.  The  impression  at  the 
Custom  House  is  that  the  whole  transaction  of 
shipping  these  goods  is  a  fraud,  and  they  do 
not  know  what  to  think  of  their  books  and 
papers. 

I  have  a  package  of  gold  leaf  in  my  posses- 
sion, also  two  Confederate  uniforms.  Some 
of  the  cotton  cards  I  found  stored  away  in 
the  cabin,  and  some  away  under  the  stairs. 
The  second  box  on  the  manifest,  shipped  by 
Bolton  to  R.  P.  Blackstone,  contained  one 
96 


JAMES  A.  WINN,  A  SPY 

box  soap,  and  one  box  of  glass.  I  have  a  cer- 
tificate from  Bolton  to  that  effect.  Mr.  Pas- 
sano,  who  shipped  the  box  containing  the 
glass,  denies  any  knowledge  of  the  contents 
of  the  box,  as  it  was  a  cash  bill  and  he  had 
no  record  of  it. 
I  am.  Colonel, 

Very  respy  your  obdt.  servt., 

H.  B.  Smith, 
Lieut.  Com'd'g,  D.  C. 

We  subsequently  returned  to  the  innocent  ship- 
pers their  goods,  but  confiscated  the  balance,  and 
also  the  vessel.  I  afterwards  used  the  "Travers" 
to  capture  other  blockade  runners,  and  quite  suc- 
cessfully. A  sailor  will  recognize  a  vessel  as  far 
as  the  eye  can  reach,  as  surely  as  a  man  can  recog- 
nize any  familiar  object.  She  was  known  as  a 
blockade-runner  to  the  fraternity ;  we  used  her  to 
crawl  upon  others. 

Any  citizen  or  soldier  from  the  Confederacy 
found  v/ithin  our  lines  was  considered  a  spy ;  some 
were  executed.  To  escape  such  treatment  it  was 
necessary  to  report  to  the  nearest  officer  and  take 
the  oath  of  allegiance.  Even  then  we  were  not  pro- 
tected, but  had  to  carefully  examine  the  purported 
refugee,  or  deserter,  to  ascertain  their  possible  hon- 
esty.    We  captured  a  great  many  spies. 

An  official  spy,  sent  out  by  the  Confederates  to 

97 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

perform  a  specific  duty,  had  no  conscience  to  an- 
swer to,  that  would  prevent  his  taking  our  oath. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps, 

Baltimore    May  3,  1864. 
Lieut.  Col.  Woolley, 
Provost  Marshal. 

Colonel. — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that 
this  evening  we  arrested  James  A.  Winn,  a 
member  of  Co.  E.  ist  Md.  Rebel  Cavalry,  in 
a  house,  No.  42  Saratoga  street.  He  was 
dressed  as  a  citizen ;  under  his  coat,  with  the 
flaps  rolled  back,  was  his  uniform  jacket.  His 
coat  was  buttoned,  thus  hiding  his  uniform. 
He  wore  a  black  slouch  hat. 

I  placed  the  inmates  of  the  house,  Mrs. 
Hall  and  Miss  McAlden  in  arrest,  and 
searched  the  premises. 

Both  of  these  ladies  admitted  they  were 
aware  of  Winn's  character,  and  that  their 
sympathies  were  with  the  South.  I  found 
nothing  contraband  in  the  house.  They  live 
neatly,  but  are  evidently  poor.  Miss  Mc- 
Alden remarked  that  they  were  too  poor  to 
aid  the  South  even  if  they  were  so  disposed. 

I  have  a  guard  in  charge  of  the  house 
awaiting  your  disposition  of  the  case. 

Messrs.  Allen  and  Sampson,  clerks  at  De- 
98 


JAMES  A.  WINN,  A  SPY 

partment  Headquarters,  are,  I  am  informed, 
boarding  at  this  house. 
I  am  Colonel, 

Very  respy,  your  obdt.  servant, 
H.  B.  Smith, 
Lt.  Com'd'g  D.  C. 

The  papers  and  pocketbook  that  I  handed 
you  were  found  on  his  person. 

Any  incautious  information  dropped  by  Allen  or 
Sampson  was  likely  to  be  immediately  reported  to 
the  Confederate  authorities.  The  Department  was 
honeycombed  with  just  such  points  of  insecurity, 
leaks  which  it  was  my  duty  to  stop. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps, 

Baltimore,  May  4,  1864. 
Col.  Woolley, 

Provost  Marshal. 
Send  a  good  detective  to  Frederick,  Md. 
He  may  possibly  get  track  there  of  some  of 
the  1st  (Rebel)   Maryland  Spies.     Send  him 
on  the  first  train. 

Lew  Wallace, 
Major  General  Commanding. 

The  above  order  is  in  General  Wallace's  hand- 
writing. Winn,  whom  we  had  arrested,  was  of 
that  regiment  and  we  were  searching  for  others. 

99 


FILE   XII. 

F.  M.  Ellis,  chief  detective,  U.  S.  Sanitary  Commis- 
sion— Arrest  of  W.  W.  Shore,  of  the  New  Yor!. 
"World" — John  Gillock  from  Richmond. 

United  States  Sanitary  Commission, 
244  F  Street,  Washington,  D.  C. 

May  7,  1864. 

Lieut.  Smith. 

Dear  Sir. — Your  favor  was  received  in  due 
time  and  after  diligent  search  I  am  satisfied 
that  no  such  man  is  now  in  Washington ; 
however,  I  shall  keep  a  close  lookout,  and 
any  information  worth  while,  I  shall  give  you 
at  once. 

When   you  have  any  business   to  be  done 
here  I  shall  esteem  it  a  favor  to  assist  you. 
Your  obdt.    servant, 

F.  M.  Ellis, 
Chief  Detective,  U.  S.  Sanitary  Com. 

Mr.   Ellis's  ofifer  of  service  was  without  price ; 

in  fact  there  was  an  entire  absence  of  what  is  called 

"commercialism"  in  those  days.     Loyalty  and  zeal 

were  the  currency.     After  three  and  a  half  years 

100 


ARREST  OF  W.  W.  SHORE 

in  such  service  it  was  hard  for  me  to  get  down  to 
a  dollars-and-cents  business  again. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps, 

Baltimore,  May  8,   1864. 

Lieut.  Col.  Woolley, 
Provost  Marshal. 
Colonel. — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that 
Officer  Horner  arrested  William  W.  Shore, 
who  is,  or  has  been  the  correspondent  of  the 
New  York  World  and  News.  He  says  he  left 
Fort  Monroe  on  Feb.  14,  and  used  to  forward 
Rebel  papers  to  New  York,  until  he  was  ord- 
ered away  by  General  Butler. 

Enclosed  herewith  is  the  telegram  on  which 
he  was  arrested. 
I  am  Colonel, 

Very  respy.  your  obdt.  servt., 

H.  B.  Smith, 
Lieut.  Comdg.  D.  C. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps, 
Baltimore,  May   14,   1864. 

Special  Order  No.  40. 

Guard  in  charge  of  John  Gillock,  political 
prisoner,  will  proceed  to  Fort  McHenry.     On 
arrival  you  will  report  to  Commanding  Offi- 
cer, deliver  charge  with  accompanying  papers, 
lOI 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

receive   receipt   and   return    to    these    head- 
quarters without  delay. 

By  command,  Major  General  Wallace. 
John  Woolley, 
Lt.  Col.  and  Provost  Marshal. 

I  remember  this  young  man  very  w^ell.  He  was 
from  Richmond.  Subsequently,  after  testing  his 
reliability,  I  made  use  of  him  for  detective  purposes. 
He  was  well  acquainted  with  General  Winder's 
men,  hence  his  value  to  us. 


102 


FILE   XIII. 

Ordered  to  seize  all  copies  of  the  New  York  "World," 
bringing  in  one  of  the  great  war  episodes,  the 
Bogus  Presidential  Proclamation — Governor  Sey- 
mour's queer  vigor  appears. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps, 

Baltimore,  May  i8,  1864. 
Provost  Guards, 

or  U.  S.  Detectives. 
Seize  all  copies  of  the  New  York  World 
of  this  date,  that  may  arrive  from  New  York, 
or  that  you  can  find  in  the  city. 

By  command,  Major  General  Wallace. 
John  Woolley, 
Lt.  Col.  and  Provost  Marshal. 

This  order  is  innocent  enough  in  its  appearance, 
but  it  is  really  the  executive  action  upon  a  subject 
almost  as  vital  in  its  effects  as  any  of  the  great  bat- 
tles of  the  war. 

Under  date  of  May  17th  a  proclamation,  calling- 
for  four  hundred  thousand  more  troops,  purport- 
ing to  be  from  President  Lincoln,  was  issued,  and 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

was  published  in  certain  papers ;  among  them  the 
New  York  "World."     The  following  is  a  copy : 

Executive  Mansion,  May  17,  1864. 
Fellow  Citizens  of  the  United  States : 

In  all  seasons  of  exigency  it  becomes  a  na- 
tion carefully  to  scrutinize  its  line  of  con- 
duct, humbly  to  approach  the  throne  of  Grace, 
and  meekly  to  implore  forgiveness,  wisdom, 
and  guidance. 

For  reasons  known  only  to  Him,  it  has  been 
decreed  that  this  country  should  be  the  scene 
of  unparalleled  outrage,  and  this  nation  the 
monumental  sufferer  of  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury. With  a  heavy  heart,  but  an  undimin- 
ished confidence  in  our  cause,  I  approach  the 
performance  of  a  duty  rendered  imperative  by 
my  sense  of  weakness  before  Almighty  God 
and  of  justice  to  the  people. 

It  is  not  necessary  that  I  should  tell  you 
that  the  first  Virginia  campaign,  under  Lieut. 
General  Grant,  in  whom  I  have  every  confi- 
dence, and  whose  courage  and  fidelity  the  peo- 
ple do  well  to  honor,  is  virtually  closed.  He 
has  conducted  his  great  enterprise  with  dis- 
creet ability.  He  has  crippled  their  strength 
and  defeated  their  plans. 

In  view,  however,  of  the  situation  in  Vir- 
ginia, the  disaster  at  Red  river,  the  delay  at 
Charleston,  and  the  general  state  of  the  coun- 
try, I,  Abraham  Lincoln,  do  hereby  recom- 
mend that  Thursday,  the  26th  day  of  May, 
104 


COPIES  OF  N.  Y.  WORLD  SEIZED 

A.D.,  1864,  be  solemnly  set  apart  throughout 
these  United  States  as  a  day  of  fasting,  hu- 
miliation and  prayer. 

Deeming,  furthermore,  that  the  present  con- 
dition of  public  affairs  presents  an  extraor- 
dinary occasion,  and  in  view  of  the  pending 
expiration  of  the  service  of  (100,000)  one 
hundred  thousand  of  our  troops,  I,  Abra- 
ham Lincoln,  President  of  the  United  States, 
by  virtue  of  the  power  vested  in  me  by  the 
Constitution  and  the  laws,  have  thought  fit 
to  call  forth,  and  hereby  do  call  forth  the 
citizens  of  the  United  States  between  the  ages 
of  (18)  eighteen  and  (45)  forty-five  years, 
to  the  aggregate  number  of  (400,000)  four 
hundred  thousand,  in  order  to  suppress  the  ex- 
isting rebellious  combinations,  and  to  cause 
the  due  execution  of  the  laws. 

And,  furthermore,  in  case  any  State  or 
number  of  States  shall  fail  to  furnish  by  the 
fifteenth  day  of  June  next  their  assigned 
quotas,  it  is  hereby  ordered  that  the  same  be 
raised  by  immediate  and  peremptory  draft. 
The  details  for  this  object  will  be  communi- 
cated to  the  State  authorities  through  the 
War  Department. 

I  appeal  to  all  loyal  citizens  to  favor,  facili- 
tate, and  aid  this  effort  to  maintain  the  honor, 
the  integrity,  and  the  existence  of  the  National 
Union,  and  the  perpetuity  of  popular  govern- 
ment. 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set 
my  hand,  and  caused  the  seal  of  the 
United  States  to  be  affixed.  Done  at 
the  city  of  Washington,  this  17th  day 
of  May,  one  thousand,  eight  hundred 
and  sixty-four,  and  of  the  indepen- 
dence of  the  United  States  the  eighty- 
eighth. 

Abraham  Lincoln. 

By  the  President: 

William  H.  Seward,  Secretary  of  State. 

This  was  immediately  contradicted  by  the  Gov- 
ernment, as  follows : 

To  the  Public. 
Department  of  State,  Washington,  D.  C. 

May  18,  1864. 
A  paper  purporting  to  be  a  proclamation  of 
the  President,  countersigned  by  the  Secretary 
of  State,  and  bearing  date  of  the  17th  inst.  is 
reported  to  this  Department  as  having  ap- 
peared in  the  New  York  "World"  of  this  date. 
This  paper  is  an  absolute  forgery.  No  procla- 
mation of  this  kind  has  been  made,  or  proposed 
to  be  made,  by  the  President,  or  issued,  or 
proposed  to  be  issued,  by  the  State  Depart- 
ment, or  any  other  Department  of  the  Govern- 
ment. Wm.  H.  Seward, 

Secretary  of  State. 
Under  the  head  "Freedom  of  Press"  Appleton's 
106 


BOGUS    PRESIDENTIAL    PROCLAMATION 

Encyclopedia  for  1864  gives  twelve  columns  of 
space  to  this  matter.  The  excitement  resulted  in 
the  greatest  distress.  Gold  advanced  four  or  five 
per  cent.,  a  panic  prevailed,  and  great  calamity,  of 
course,  followed. 

Soon  thereafter  we  seized  every  telegraph  instru- 
ment and  office  record  in  the  Department,  and  ar- 
rested the  officers  and  clerks.  I  became  so  tired 
with  the  extraordinary  labor  and  loss  of  sleep,  that 
I  actually  fell  asleep  while  standing  at  a  desk  in 
one  of  the  offices.  I  had  heard  of  such  experiences, 
but  had  believed  it  impossible. 

The  object  of  seizing  the  newspapers,  telegraphic 
instruments  and  records,  was  to  prevent  the  disaster 
that  must  follow  the  further  spreading  of  the  im- 
pression created  by  the  bogus  message,  that  our 
Government  was  in  dire  distress. 

Copperhead  conspirators  and  Confederate  agents 
here  and  in  Canada,  had  been  and  were  at  work  to 
undermine  us  by  every  means.  Distress  to  us,  how- 
ever brought  about,  was  their  purpose.  They 
sought  to  create  in  the  minds  of  the  masses  the 
idea  that  the  war  was  a  failure. 

These  conspirators  had  tried  to  use  the  conscrip- 
tion, in  1863,  to  disrupt  us,  and  they  were  again 
trying  to  scare  the  people  with  a  prospective  draft, 
in  1864,  to  unsettle  the  public  mind  before  the 
Presidential  election,  then  soon  to  occur  (in  No- 
vember) . 

107 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

Governor  Seymour  relentlessly  pursued  General 
Dix,  seeking  to  have  him  indicted  for  arresting  (he 
claimed)  illegally,  persons  party  to  the  fraud.  But 
the  grand  jury  refused  to  indict  him.  Seymour 
claimed  that  he  (Seymour)  was  trying  to  preserve 
personal  liberty,  from  the  general  government's  en- 
croachments, which  was  also  his  attitude  in  Vallan- 
digham's  case  in  1863. 

The  New  York  "World"  and  "The  Journal  of 
Commerce"  were  the  newspapers  involved  in  the 
affair,  but  the  odium  should  not  attach  to  the  pres- 
ent papers. 

The  bogus  proclamation  spread  faster  and  fur- 
ther than  the  denial  of  it  possibly  could. 


108 


FILE   XIV. 

Arrest  of  F.  W.  Farlin  and  A.  H.  Covert — The  Pulpit 
not  loyal,  reports  on  Rev.  Mr.  Harrison  and  Rev. 
Mr.  Poisal — Comical  reports  on  a  religious  confer- 
ence and  a  camp  meeting — Seizure  of  Kelly  & 
Piet's  store  with  its  contraband  kindergarten  con- 
tents— Sloop  "R.  B.  Tennis"  one  of  my  fleet,  and 
an  account  of  a  capture  of  tobacco,  etc. — Arrest 
of  Frederick  Smith,  Powell  Harrison  and  Robert 
Alexander — Harry  Brogden. 

Headqtiarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps, 

Baltimore,  May  21,  1864. 
Lt.  Col.  Woolley, 

Provost  Marshal. 
Colonel. — I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  ar- 
rest of  A.  H.  Covert  and  F.  W.  Farlin,  as  per 
order  annexed. 

I  have  it  from  a  reliable  source  that  Mr. 
Alexander  Civin  went  to  Philadelphia  this 
morning,  I  therefore  tele,graphed  to  the  Pro- 
vost Marshal  there,  for  his  arrest,  and  to  send 
him  under  guard  to  this  place. 
I  am,  Colonel, 

Very  respy.  your  obdt.  serv^ant, 
H.  B.  Smith, 
Lieut.  Comdg.  D.  C. 
109 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

To  discover  persons  engaged  in  creating  senti- 
ments of  disloyalty,  or  in  pandering  to  such  senti- 
ments, was  a  part  of  our  duty;  the  pulpit  was  not 
always  loyal. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps, 

Baltimore,  May  22,  1864. 

Col.  Woolley, 

Provost  Marshal. 
Colonel. — I  have  the  honor  to  report  in  re- 
gard to  the  sermons  of  the  Reverends  Harri- 
son and  Poisal :  Neither  preached  a  political 
sermon  nor  dealt  in  any  way  with  the  affairs 
of  the  country,  except  in  one  or  two  instances 
Mr.  Harrison  spoke  of  the  present  deplor- 
able condition  of  affairs  in  this  country  and 
seemed  to  be  very  much  downcast  in  both 
preaching  and  praying.  He  (Mr.  H.)  did  not 
utter  one  word  of  prayer  for  our  President, 
Army  or  Government. 

I  know  of  Mr.  Poisal's  being  a  correspon- 
dent of  some  of  the  Rebel  prisoners  in  Fort 
McHenry. 

At  both  sermons  they  had  very  slim  audi- 
ences. 

I  am,  Colonel, 

Very  respy.  your  obdt.  servant, 
H.  B.  Smith, 
Lieut,  and  Chief, 
no 


THE  PULPIT  NOT  LOYAL 

On  one  occasion  it  was  my  duty  to  attend  a  State 
conference  in  one  of  the  churches ;  it  was  rather 
slimly  attended.  We  were  invited  to  come  nearer  the 
altar,  and  I,  with  the  rest,  compHed. 

We  were  then  asked  to  in  turn  arise  and  an- 
nounce what  district  in  the  State  we  represented, 
and  report  on  its  condition.  I  was  embarrassed, 
but  kept  my  eye  on  the  ceiling  or  on  the  floor.  I 
presume  my  dumbness  excused  me.  The  closing 
hymn  was  No.  701,  on  page  417,  and  the  first  verse 
was: 

"Jesus,  great  Shepherd  of  the  sheep, 

To  thee  for  help  we  fly, 
Thy  little  flock  in  safety  keep, 

For  O !  the  wolf  is  nigh." 

They  were  correct  in  the  guess,  about  the  wolf, 
but  I  did  not  say  so  out  loud. 

A  very  laughable  report  was  made  to  me  by  one 
of  my  officers  who  was  sent  into  the  country  to  a 
meeting  in  the  woods.  This  officer  knew  more 
about  guns  than  about  religious  meetings.  He  re- 
ported nothing  disloyal  was  said,  but  urged  the  ne- 
cessity of  going  there  next  Sunday,  as  they  said : 
"they  would  have  some  big  guns  there  then."  The 
officer  was  used  to  guns,  and  so  he  assumed  that 
they  meant  cannons,  whereas  they  were  referring 
to  popular  speakers  who  were  to  be  present  there 
the  following  Sunday. 

Ill 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

General  Wallace  was  just  the  man  to  administer 
the  affairs  of  a  department  so  complex  in  sentiment. 
No  better  illustration  can  be  furnished  than  the  fol- 
lowing circular  letter  issued  to  the  churches  at  a 
time  when  the  public  mind  was  so  wrought  up  by 
the  assassination  of  the  President.  It  is  too  fine  a 
document  to  be  lost.  To  the  General's  memory  I 
insert  it  here : 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 

8th  Army  Corps, 
Baltimore,  Md.,  April  19,  1865. 
Circular. 

The  conduct  of  certain  clergymen  in  this 
city  has,  in  some  instances,  been  so  positively 
offensive  to  loyal  people,  and,  in  others,  of 
such  doubtful  propriety,  to  say  nothing  about 
taste,  as  to  have  become  a  cause  of  bad  feel- 
ing with  many  well-disposed  citizens. 

As  you  must  be  aware,  the  recent  tragedy, 
so  awful  in  circumstance,  and  nationally  so  ca- 
lamitous, has,  as  it  well  might,  inflamed  the 
sensibilities  of  men  and  women  who  esteem 
their  loyalty  only  a  little  less  sacred  than  their 
religion. 

In  this  state  of  affairs  you  will  undoubtedly 
perceive  the  wisdom  of  avoiding,  on  your  own 
part,  everything  in  the  least  calculated  to  of- 
fend the  sensibilities  mentioned.  You  will  also 
perceive  the  propriety  of  requiring  members 
of  your  congregation,  male  and  female,  who 

J 13 


COMICAL  REPORTS  OF  MEETINGS 

may  be  so  unfortunate  as  to  have  been  sym- 
pathizers with  the  rebellion,  not  to  bring  their 
politics  into  the  church. 

So  profound  is  my  reverence  for  your  truly 
sacred  profession,  that,  in  the  sincere  hope  of 
avoiding  any  necessity  for  interfering  with  the 
exercise  of  your  office,  I  choose  this  method 
of  respectfully  warning  you  of  the  existing 
state  of  public  feeling,  and  calling  upon  you, 
in  the  name  of  our  common  Savior,  to  lend 
me  your  influence  and  energetic  assistance,  to 
be  exerted  in  every  lawful  way,  to  soothe  irri- 
tations and  calm  excitements.  You  know  that 
what  I  thus  request  I  have  the  power  to  en- 
force. You  ought  also  to  know  that,  to  save 
the  community  from  the  dishonor  and  conse- 
quences of  a  public  outbreak,  it  would  be  my 
duty  to  exercise  all  the  power  I  possess,  with- 
out regard  to  persons  or  congregations. 

If  you  feel  that  you  cannot  yourself  comply 
with  this  fraternal  solicitation,  or  that  you 
are  unable  to  control  evil-disposed  members  of 
your  flock,  I  suggest  that  it  is  better,  far  bet- 
ter, in  every  respect,  that  you  should  close  the 
doors  of  your  church  for  a  season  at  least. 

I  have  no  fear  that  the  kindliness  of  my  pur- 
pose in  thus  communicating  with  you  will  be 
mistaken ;  and  that  you  may  not  understand 
yourself  as  accused,  or  specially  selected  from 
the  mass  of  your  professional  brethren,  you 
are  informed  that  a  copy  of  this  note  has  been 

"3 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

or  will  be  addressed  to  every  clergyman  in 
the  city. 

Very  respectfully, 
Your  friend. 

Lew  Wallace, 
Major  General  Commanding. 

The  firm  referred  to  in  the  following  two  docu- 
ments was  one  of  the  largest  stationers  in  the  city. 
Their  reputation  for  disloyalty  was  well  understood 
by  us.  An  important  part  of  their  business  was 
the  dissemination  of  articles  which  tended  to  have 
the  kindergarten  effect  of  schools  of  disloyalty. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps, 
Baltimore,  Md.,  May  23,  1864. 
Lieut.  H.  B.  Smith. 

Sir. — We  have  the  honor  to  report  that  this 
afternoon  we  went  into  the  book  store  of  Kel- 
ley  &  Piet,  No.  174  W.  Baltimore  street,  and 
told  them  that  we  were  book  agents  on  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  and  had  just 
arrived  from  Frederick  City.  We  asked  Mr. 
Piet  if  he  had  any  books  of  Abraham  Lincoln 
Trials ;  he  hesitated  for  a  short  time,  then  told 
us  that  he  had.  We  then  asked  him  if  he  had 
any  of  the  Life  of  Jackson ;  he  said  he  had  a 
few,  and  said  he  would  send  and  get  us  some 
more  in  half  an  hour.  He  then  showed  us 
some  different  books  and  also  some  playing 
114 


KELLY  AND  PIET'S  KINDERGARTEN 

cards  with  the  different  Rebel  Generals  on  the 
face  of  them,  which  he  offered  to  sell  at  $4.50 
per  dozen;  also  some  writing  paper  and  en- 
velopes with  the  Rebel   Flag  on,  which  we 
bought  and  you  will  find  the  bill  enclosed. 
We  are,  Lieut.,  your  obdt.  servants, 
L  W.  Stern  and 
Geo.  R.  Redman,  U.  S.  D. 

The  bill  attached  was  $34.24. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8tli  Army  Corps, 

Baltimore,  May  23,  1864. 

Col.  Woolley, 

Provost  Marshal. 
Colonel. — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  I 
this  day  seized  and  searched  the  store  of 
Kelly  &  Piet,  No.  174  West  Baltimore  street, 
and  enclosed  hand  you  a  list  of  contraband  ar- 
ticles seized.  I  also  enclose  the  report  of  the 
detectives. 

Mr.   Piet  states  that  he  has  been  arrested 
before  on  a  similar  charge. 

I   brought   to  our  office   Messrs.    Kelly   & 
Piet,  but  did  not  lock  them  up.    I  have  the  key 
of  their  store  in  my  possession. 
I  am  Colonel, 

Very  respy.  your  obdt.  servant, 
H.  B.  Smith, 
Lieut.  Comdg.  D.  C. 

115 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

List: 
90  Assortments  of  photos.    212  total. 
19  Vols.  Morgan  and  His  Men. 
2  Vols.  Life  Stonewall  Jackson. 

1  Vol.  1st  Year  of  the  War. 

4  Vols.  2nd  Year  of  the  War. 

97  Pamphlets  Trial  Abraham  Lincoln. 

2  Vols.  Rebel  Rhymes. 

4  Vols.  Three  months  in  Southern  States. 

5  Vols.  Confed.  Reports  of  Battles. 

3  Vols.  Southern  History  of  the  War. 
I  Package  note  paper,  Rebel  flag. 

I   Package  envelopes,  Rebel  flag. 
8  Steel  Engravings,  Rebel  Generals. 
57  Packages  Playing  Cards,  Confed. 

All  of  this  was  inflammable  matter. 

The  Captain  Bailey,  spoken  of  in  the  succeeding 
report,  was  the  same  Bailey  that  I  captured  in 
March  previous.  I  had  found  him  to  be  an  excel- 
lent sailing  master,  and  a  man  whom  I  could  trust. 
The  sloop  "R.  B.  Tennis"  was  one  of  my  fleet. 

Office  Provost  Marshal, 
Baltimore,  May  28,  1864. 
Major  H.  Z.  Hayner, 
Provost  Marshal. 
Major. — I   have  the    honor   to    submit   the 
following  brief  report  of  the  seizure  made  by 
sloop  "R.  B.  Tennis,"  Capt.  Bailey,  with  three 
detective  officers  on  board. 
it6 


CAPTURE  OF  TOBACCO 

Enclosed  I  hand  you  report  of  Detective 
Lewis,  who  was  placed  in  charge,  which  re- 
port is  not  quite  so  full  as  it  should  be,  cov- 
ering all  remarks  and  acknowledgments  made 
by  the  prisoners. 

I  will  state  that  they  said  several  times  that 
they  were  blockade  runners  by  occupation. 

Enclosed  is  the  statement  made  to  me  by 
Fred.  E.  Smith,  who,  I  think,  is  rather  faint 
hearted  in  his  profession. 

Harrison  acknowledged  to  have  run  the 
blockade  several  times,  but  don't  seem  willing 
to  talk  much,  as  he  thinks  "he  might  impli- 
cate some  near  and  dear  friends,"  he  has 
talked  a  deal  to  some  of  the  officers,  whose 
statements  I  shall  get  when  they  return  to 
the  city. 

Alexander  refuses  to  talk,  but  I  shall  be  able 
to  get  it  all  out  of  them  soon. 

I  received  from  Detective  Lewis  the  follow- 
ing which  he  states  was  all  that  was  taken 
from  the  parties: 

Gold  and  silver,  $188.75. 

U.  S.  Currency,  $159.00. 

Southern  States  money,  $190.00. 

Northern  States  money,  $1.00. 

I  gold  watch. 

I  silver  watch. 

23  large  and  2  small  boxes  tobacco. 

I  large  yawl  boat. 

I  have  stored  the  tobacco  in  the  store  of 
117 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

W.  W.  Janney,  a  receipt  for  which  is  annexed. 
The  boat  is  in  charge  of  guard  on  board  the 
schooner  "Travers." 

I  will  get  fuller  statements  from  all  the  de- 
tectives as  soon  as  possible,  and  give  to  you. 
The  prisoners  are  Fred.  E.  Smith,  Powell 
Harrison  and  Robert  Alexander. 
I  am.  Major, 

Very  respy.  your  obdt.  servant, 
H.  B.  Smith, 
Lieut,  and  Chief. 


Attached   to   this   report   is  a   memorandum  o 
statements  made  to  me: 

Fredk.  Smith: 

"I  am  from  Northumberland  County,  Va. 
I  left  Northumberland  County  on  Wednes- 
day last.  I  was  with  Mr.  Harrison  and  Mr. 
Alexander,  no  one  else  with  us.  I  am  a  citi- 
zen. I  have  been  about  eight  months  in  Va., 
all  of  that  time  in  Northumberland  County. 
I  was  formerly  from  Caroline  Co.,  Md.  I 
started  to  come  North  for  clothes  and  things. 
I  had  some  orders  for  goods  for  families  in 
Northumberland  County,  which  I  threw  over- 
board after  we  were  hailed,  also  had  twenty 
odd  boxes  tobacco. 

Mr.  Harrison  has  lived  in  Northumberland 
County  since  I  have  been  there,  but  has  been 
ii8 


SMITH,  HARRISON  AND  ALEXANDER 

north  of  the  Potomac   three  or  four  times. 

I  don't  know  much  of  Mr.  Alexander,  ex- 
cept that  he  came  from  Maryland  with  Mr. 
Harrison  on  one  of  his   (Harrison's)  trips. 

I  came  over  as  a  passenger  with  Harrison 
and  Alexander.  Some  of  the  tobacco  belongs 
to  me.  I  had  about  $250  in  gold,  and  about 
$100  or  more  in  greenbacks,  and  $50  or  $60 
in  Virginia  money.  Had  no  particular  point 
of  destination.  I  was  to  pay  Harrison  and 
Alexander  $200  for  my  fare.  I  think  they  in- 
tended to  land  on  the  Eastern  shore,  Md.,  or 
perhaps  on  Western  shore.  I  think  Harrison 
and  Alexander  are  blockade  runners  by  pro- 
fession. They  intended  to  return  to  Virginia. 
I  think  we  were  about  going  into  Choptank 
river.     I  think  at  about  James  Point. 

I  started  for  Little  River,  Virginia.  I  think 
another  party  of  two  or  three  started  at  about 
the  same  time ;  they  had  some  tobacco.  I  did 
not  know  their  names ;  they  were  in  a  little 
sloop,  dark  color.  I  saw  them  again  about 
Point  Lookout.  I  think  perhaps  they  had 
about  two  or  three  thousand  pounds.  The 
sloop  and  sail  looked  rather  old.  It  was  Wed- 
nesday night  that  I  last  saw  the  sloop.  I 
think  Mr.  Harrison  was  over  about  three  or 
four  weeks  since." 
Powell  Harrison : 

"Northumberland  County,  Virginia.     I  am 
a  farmer,  I  have  lived  there  about  three  or 
119 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

four  years.     I  have  been  north  of  the  Poto- 
mac three  times  since  the  War." 
Robert  Alexander: 
(Made  no  statement.) 

You  will  notice  the  brevity  of  Harrison's  state- 
ment, and  that  Alexander  made  no  statement.  Alex- 
ander and  one  other  man,  named  Bollman  (if  I  re- 
member right)  w^ere  the  only  ones  who  defeated 
me  in  my  efforts  to  learn  something  about  them 
from  their  own  lips. 

The  tobacco  was  best  Virginia  plug,  worth  about 
one  dollar  per  pound  (about  three  thousand  dollars' 
worth).  This  little  yawl  (with  a  dirty  sail),  worth 
about  twenty  or  thirty  dollars,  was  earning  two 
hundred  dollars  in  one  night  in  carrying  Smith  and 
his  tobacco  over. 

As  I  said  before,  the  Potomac  was  patrolled  by 
gunboats,  and  the  north  shore  was  garrisoned  at 
many  points  with  troops,  yet  these  little  fellows 
would  creep  right  in  between  them.  My  plan  was 
to  go  equipped  as  they  were,  and  meet  them  on 
their  level. 

We  did  not  consider  the  neck  between  the  Poto- 
mac and  the  Rappahannock  as  the  enemy's  country, 
yet  the  Confederates  had  a  signal  station  on  the 
Potomac  all  through  the  war;  it  was  in  charge  of 
Harry  Brogdan,  whom  I  knew.  When  I  get  along 
in  my  stories  to  June  30th,  I  will  show  you  how 
well  it  was  understood  in  the  Confederacy. 
120 


FILE   XV. 

General  pass  for  the  schooner  "W.  H.  Travers" — Trip 
down  the  bay  after  blockade  runners  and  mail 
carriers — Gillock  and  Lewis,  two  of  my  officers, 
captured  by  Union  pickets — Commodore  Foxhall 
A.  Parker— Potomac  flotilla — Arrest  of  J.  B.  Mc- 
Williams — My  watch  gone  to  the  mermaids — The 
ignorance  of  "poor  white  trash." 

To  save  delay  in  getting  out  of  the  harbor  the 
following  request  was  made : 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps, 

Baltimore,  June  9,  1864. 

Capt.  Cornell, 

Commanding  Revenue  Cutter, 

Baltimore  Harbor. 
Captain. — I  have  the  honor  to  request  that 
you   permit   the   schooner   "W.   H.   Travers" 
under  command  of  Lieut.  Smith,  to  pass  your 
vessel  without  Custom  Clearance.    She  is  em- 
ployed in  the  Secret  Service  Bureau,  8th  A.C. 
Respy,  your  most  obdt.  servt., 
John  Woolley, 
Lt.  Col.  and  Provost  Marshal. 
121 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 

Baltimore,  June  9,  1864, 
Special  Order  No.  76. 

Lieut.  H.  B.  Smith  with  detachment  of  Se- 
cret Service  Corps,  will  proceed  on  schooner 
"W.  H.  Travers"  to  such  points  on  Eastern 
and  Western  shore  of  Maryland,  Eastern  and 
Western  shore  of  Virg"inia,  and  Southern  and 
Northern  shore  of  the  Potomac  river,  as  he 
deems  proper  and  necessary  to  further  the  in- 
structions of  the  Government. 

By  command  of  Major  General  Wallace, 
John  Woolley, 
Lt.  Col.  and  Provost  Marshal. 


The  chain  of  war  vessels  extending  along  the 
Potomac  under  the  command  of  Commodore  Fox- 
hall  A.  Parker,  he  having  jurisdiction  of  the  waters, 
was  known  as  the  Potomac  flotilla. 

When  I  attempted  to  approach  the  Commodore 
on  his  flag  ship  I  was,  in  my  raiment,  a  sight.  The 
marines  viewed  me  with  curiosity.  Upon  introduc- 
ing myself  to  the  Commodore,  he  laughed.  His 
wife  being  present,  also  enjoyed  a  laugh  at  my  ap- 
pearance. No  "Johnny"  ever  looked  more  dilapi- 
dated. I  presented  my  orders  for  the  Commodore's 
endorsement. 

122 


AFTER   BLOCKADE    RUNNERS 

Headquarters,  Cavalry  Detachment, 
District  of   St.   Mary's. 
Leonardstown,  Md.,  June  i6,  1864. 
Lieut.  H.  B.  Smith, 

Chief  Detective  on  board 

schooner  "W.  H.  Travers." 
Some  of  my  scouts  last  night  arrested  two 
men  in  a  boat  at  the  head  of  Britton's  Bay, 
who  claim  to  be  Government  detectives,  and 
under  your  charge.  If  such  is  the  case  I  de- 
sire that  you  will  in  some  manner  identify 
them,  as  they  have  nothing  with  them  which 
would  lead  me  to  suppose  them  to  be  such. 

These  men  give  their  names  as  John  Gillock, 
and  J.  W.  Lewis. 

I  shall  hold  these  men  in  confinement  until 
I  am  fully  satisfied  of  the  truth  of  their  state- 
ments. 

I  am,  Sir,  very  respy,  yours,  &c., 

F.    W.    DiCKERSON, 

Lt.  Comdg. 

These  were  our  boys  and  they  were  set  at  liberty 
of  course.  The  Lieutenant  was  doing  perfectly  right, 
as  our  appearance  and  conduct  was  suspicious.  Our 
plans  always  were  to  appear  to  be  blockade-runners, 
so  we  never  carried  on  our  persons  any  evidence  of 
our  true  character.  We  carried  forged  Confederate 
documents  when  we  were  going  where  it  was  de- 
sirable. We  could  imitate  General  Winder's  signa- 
ture to  passes,  defying  detection,  and  we  had  the 
123 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

same  kind  of  paper,  a  light  brown.     The  Confed- 
erate Government  had  poor  stationery. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 

Baltimore,  June  2^,  1864. 
Col.  Woolley, 

Provost  Marshal. 

Colonel. — I  have  the  honor  to  report  the 
following  on  the  trip  on  the  schooner  "W.  H. 
Travers,"  down  the  Bay,  and  on  the  Potomac 
river.  I  seized  about  three  boxes  tobacco 
(three  hundred  dollars)  on  the  farm  of  Mr. 
Evans,  Smith's  Creek,  St.  Mary's  County, 
Md.,  which  he  said  was  placed  in  his  hay 
stack  by  some  blockade  runners. 

I  got  from  the  Provost  Marshal  at  Leon- 
ardstown,  St.  Mary's  County,  the  canoe  which 
was  seized  by  Detective  White  sometime 
since. 

In  the  Wicomico  river,  near  its  mouth,  we 
seized  a  small  yawl  containing  live  men  and 
one  woman,  who  were  on  their  way  to  Vir- 
ginia. Wm.  H.  Hayden  owned  the  boat  and 
was  to  receive  fifty  dollars  each  for  convey- 
ing the  passengers  over ;  he  is  engaged  in  this 
business  constantly.  About  one  week  since  he 
carried  over  two  persons,  one  a  Doctor;  they 
were  in  the  woods  a  day  or  so  before  they 
started. 

Hayden  has  been   carrying  a  mail  to  and 
124 


MY  OFFICERS  CAPTURED 

fro.  A  small  package  of  letters  with  a  stone 
attached  was  found  in  the  boat  and  I  presume 
they  were  in  Mr.  Hayden's  charge,  as  in  the 
letters  Mr.  Hayden  is  mentioned  as  "carrying 
letters." 

Wm.  R.  Horton,  a  passenger,  w^as  formerly 
in  the  Confederate  army;  said  he  was  going 
to  return ;  says  he  applied  in  this  office  for  a 
position  a  short  time  since. 

Wm.  Gellatly  and  wife,  passengers,  were 
making  their  way  to  Columbia,  S.  C,  Mr. 
Gellatly  says  he  came  within  our  lines  early 
in  April  last,  but  did  not  report  to  any  Pro- 
vost Marshal,  as  he  did  not  wish  to  bind  him- 
self not  to  return.  He  claims  to  be  a  British 
subject.  They  had  a  small  trunk  and  some 
other  baggage.  Both  Gellatly  and  Horton  say 
that  they  made  arrangements  wdth  Hayden  in 
Giaptico.  St.  INIary's  County. 

I  found  in  the  trunk  a  small  revolver.  This 
arrest  was  made  by  Detectives  Horner  and 
Stern,  who  were  posted  as  a  picket  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Wicomico. 

There  were  two  more  men  in  the  boat  w^ho 
succeeded  in  making  their  escape  in  the  dark, 
and  whom  all  the  other  passengers  state  were 
Confederate  officers  wdio  had  escaped  from 
Point  Lookout,  named  Bruce  and  Howell.  I 
am  informed  that  one  of  these  parties  left  his 
horse  with  a  Mr.  Dent  in  Chaptico. 

The  yawl  boat  in  which  they  were  was  very 

125 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

poor,  worth  about  five  or  six  dollars,  and  I 
did  not  bring  it  to  Baltimore  as  it  was  not 
worth  towing. 

I  took  from  Mr.  Hayden  a  small  gold  watch. 
I  also  arrested  Mr.  J.  B.  McWilliams  on  the 
charge  of  aiding  Rebels,  contraband  traders, 
&c.,  and  of  defrauding  the  Government,  All 
of  which  I  will  state  in  a  separate  report. 

On  the  trip  we  have  labored  under  many- 
disadvantages.  The  vessel  is  in  no  way  fit 
for  the  business,  being  too  large  and  a  miser- 
able sailer.  We  could  not  get  about  as  we 
ought,  we  had  but  one  day's  fair  wind  during 
the  whole  trip.  We  started  from  Wicomico 
river  on  Sunday  at  3  P.  M.,  and  arrived  in 
Baltimore  this  P.  M. 

Mrs.  Gellatly  states  that  she  tried  to  per- 
suade her  husband  to  remain  North  but  he 
would  not  and  she  was  compelled  to  accom- 
pany him.  She  came  to  this  country  about 
six  months  since. 

I  could  not  get  permission  from  Commodore 
Parker  to  enter  Virginia  on  account  of  the 
raid  then  being  carried  on,  but  he  said  under 
any  other  circumstances  he  would  give  permis- 
sion and  let  a  gunboat  accompany  me. 

Hoping  that  my  action  in  these  matters  will 
meet  with  your  approval, 

I  am,  Colonel, 

Very  respy.  your  obdt.  servt., 

H.  P).  Smith, 

Lt.  and  Chief. 
126 


^ 


PARKER'S  POTOMAC  FLOTILLA 

Office  Provost  Marshal, 

Baltimore,  June  24,  1864. 
Col.  Woolley, 

Provost  Marshal. 

Colonel. — I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  fol- 
lowing- report  in  the  case  of  J.  B.  McWilliams 
of  Charles  County,  Md.,  whom  I  arrested  and 
broug-ht  to  this  prison. 

While  anchored  in  the  Wicomico  river  on 
the  trip  down  on  the  schooner  "W.  H.  Trav- 
ers,"  W.  H.  Seward  and  myself  took  a  small 
yawl  which  we  had  captured  from  Wm.  H. 
Hayden  in  attempting  to  go  South,  and  rowed 
up  the  Potomac  river  as  far  as  Cobb  creek. 
We  were  hailed  by  McWilliams  as  we  neared 
the  shore  at  this  point,  he  saying,  "I  used  to 
own  that  boat,"  asked  us  where  we  were 
from.  I  refused  to  answer,  but  he  said,  "I 
am  all  right,  you  need  not  fear  me."  We 
landed  and  went  up  into  the  bushes.  He  ad- 
vised us  to  remove  the  mufflers  from  the 
oars  as  they  could  be  seen  from  the  gunboats 
and  they  would  know  immediately  that  we 
were  from  Virginia.  He  informed  us  where 
the  soldiers  were  posted  and  how  to  avoid 
them,  and  advised  us  to  leave  our  boat  on  his 
shore  as  it  was  known  and  would  not  be  sus- 
pected, informed  us  of  Grant's  move  on  Fort 
Darling,  &c. ;  called  our  attention  to  an  arti- 
cle in  the  Baltimore  Gazette  which  he  said 
"done  him  good,"  and  would  do  any  South- 
erner good. 

127 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

He  said  he  wanted  to  send  some  copies  to 
Virginia  as  he  knew  they  would  be  so  highly 
appreciated ;  wanted  to  write  by  us  to  his  son 
who  was  in  the  Confederate  army ;  said  he 
traded  yawl  boat  with  Hayden  about  one  week 
previous,  when  Hayden  was  on  his  way  to 
Virginia  with  two  men,  one  of  them  a  Doc- 
tor; said  he  talked  with  these  two  men  nearly 
all  one  day,  and  sent  a  letter  to  his  son  by 
Hayden.  He  had  sent  his  son  a  large  revolver 
and  wanted  to  sell  me  a  double  barrelled  gun 
to  take  back  with  me  to  Virginia ;  said  he  had 
a  full  set  of  cavalry  accoutrements  that  he  had 
been  keeping,  awaiting  a  chance  to  saddle  up 
and  fight  the  Yankees. 

He  said  he  saddled  his  horse  and  started 
for  Frederick  to  assist  when  Jackson  made  his 
first  raid  but  he  could  not  get  through  the 
lines.  He  said  many  times  that  the  people  of 
Maryland  only  wanted  a  chance  to  turn  on 
the  Yankees.  He  said  Dr.  Coon  of  Washing- 
ton had  a  yacht  in  which  he  carried  over  as 
many  as  three  hundred  to  join  the  Confeder- 
ates, from  near  his  place  ;  he  said  he  was  much 
afraid  of  his  negroes  as  they  would  go  and 
tell  the  Yanks  all  that  was  going  on ;  he  ad- 
vised me  to  watch  the  negroes  especially  on 
Sunday  and  advised  us  to  scatter  about  the 
woods. 

He  brought  us  three  meals  in  the  woods. 
He  whipped  one  of  his  negroes  because  he 
128 


IGNORANCE   OF    "POOR  WHITE   TRASH" 

threatened  to  inform  the  Provost  Marshal 
that  we  were  there ;  he  suggested  to  me  the 
idea  to  lash  one  of  his  negroes  down  and 
carry  him  to  Virginia ;  he  said  there  were 
but  four  or  five  loyal  men  in  the  County. 

Said  he  was  caught  once  by  the  Yankee 
gunboats  and  they  found  seventeen  thousand 
dollars  worth  of  contraband  goods  in  his  cel- 
lar, but  that  he  had  a  frolic  at  his  house,  in- 
vited all  the  ladies  about  there  and  the  Offi- 
cers of  the  gunboats  and  thus  this  was  all 
hushed  up ;  said  he  could  bribe  any  Yan- 
kee. 

He  said  at  one  time  he  stored  $25,000  worth 
of  contraband  goods  in  his  buildings  and  aided 
in  getting  them  away  but  was  not  caught. 

He  said  that  about  three  weeks  since,  two 
Confederate  soldiers,  came  across  the  river 
and  secreted  themselves  in  the  woods  ;  he  went 
to  see  them ;  one  of  his  slaves  reported  the 
case  to  the  Provost  Marshal,  who  sent  a  guard 
to  make  the  arrest.  He  saw  the  guard  ap- 
proach. The  Confederates  were  scared ;  he 
told  them  to  keep  cool  and  when  the  guards 
came  near  to  say  they  wanted  to  know  where 
the  Provost  Marshal  was,  to  say  they  were 
refugees  and  wanted  to  take  the  oath ;  said  he 
came  near  being  caught  but  the  Yanks  were 
not  smart  enough ;  said  he  thought  these  men 
had  returned  to  Dixie  by  this  time. 

He  said  the  Government  had  attempted  to 
129 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

confiscate  his  son  Frank's  one-third  interest 
in  some  property  there  which  was  worth  about 
ten  thousand  dollars,  so  he  got  Mr.  Hig-gs, 
Post  Master  at  Newport,  Charles  County,  to 
make  out  an  account  against  Frank  amount- 
ing to  about  ten  thousand  dollars  and  sue  the 
estate ;  he  went  security  to  pay  the  amount  in 
five  years  and  thus  got  the  property  in  his 
hands. 

I  seized  from  his  house  the  double  barrelled 
gun  and  the  horse  equipments. 

I  arrested  Mr.  McWilliams  and  brought 
him  to  this  city  as  I  thought  him  too  danger- 
ous a  man  to  occupy  the  position  he  does  on 
the  Maryland  shore.  His  remarks  were  made 
voluntarily  without  my  making  much  effort, 
apparently,  to  ascertain  his  actions. 

I  am,  Colonel, 

Very  respy.  your  obdt.  servt., 
H.  B.  Smith, 
Lt.  &  Chief. 

I  remember  the  following  incident  which  occurred 
on  this  trip :  I  tried  to  qualify  as  a  deck  hand. 
Leaning  over  the  vessel's  waist,  I  tried  the  difficult 
trick  of  scooping  up  a  pail  of  water  while  the  boat 
was  in  motion,  and  while  so  engaged  my  watch 
slipped  out  of  my  pocket,  and  into  the  water.  We 
were  then  just  below  Fort  Carroll,  mid-stream. 
The  watch  is  there  yet,  unless  some  mermaid  has 
carried  it  off.  I  would  not  have  lost  it  had  I  not 
130 


ARREST  OF  J.  B.  McWILLIAMS 

divested  it  of  the  chain,  to  help  appearances.  On 
these  trips  one  could  not  discover  that  we  were  not 
ordinary  helpers  "before  the  mast." 

Many  of  the  crews  on  such  vessels  were  of  the 
class  called  by  the  negroes  "poor  white  trash,"  and 
they  were  ignorant  beyond  belief;  to  test  which  I 
once  pointed  out  land  to  the  east  as  being  Ireland, 
to  which  they  assented.  The  captains  and  mates, 
of  course,  were  not  so  ignorant. 

A  strange  picture  presented  itself  to  me  one 
moonlight  night.  We  were  laying  in  St.  Mary's 
river  when  a  cunna  (canoe)  came  along  side,  and 
three  or  four  black  men  crawled  upon  our  deck 
and  hid  themselves  down  behind  the  boat's  waist. 
They  wanted  to  go  away  with  us,  telling  a  pitiful 
tale  of  oppression,  but  slavery  was  yet  in  vogue 
there,  and  so  we  forced  them  to  go  away  home. 


131 


FILE   XVI. 

Captain  Bailey  makes  a  capture — Sinclair   introduces 
me  (as  Shaffer)  to  Mr.  Plyle. 

The  following  report  was  of  another  capture,  by 
Captain  Bailey : 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 

Baltimore,  June  29,  1864. 

Col.  Woolley, 

Provost  Marshal. 

Colonel. — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that 
Capt.  Wm.  Bailey  returned  to  this  city  this 
morning-  bringing  three  prisoners,  and  their 
skiff.  They  were  first  seen  near  James  Point, 
and  afterwards  were  taken  on  board  the 
schooner  "Thos.  H.  Northern,"  Capt.  Wells ; 
from  which  schooner  Bailey  took  them  along 
with  Capt.  Wells,  and  brought  them  to  this 
office.  I  had  a  conversation  with  each  one 
separately  and  then  confined  them. 

George  Hull  stated  that  he  was  in  the  9th 
Virginia   Cavalry,    from    which    he    deserted 
some  three  months  since ;  that  he  has  been  in 
132 


CAPT.  BAILEY  MAKES  A  CAPTURE 

the  Confederacy  since  1862 ;  that  he  ran  the 
blockade  into  Virginia  on  the  schooner 
"Sarah  EHzabeth"  from  Philadelphia,  loaded 
with  an  assorted  cargo,  and  landed  in  the 
Rappahannock  river ;  that  he  did  not  know  he 
was  going  to  run  the  blockade  when  he 
started.  A  man  named  Edwards,  commanded 
the  schooner. 

Nicholas  McKee  states  that  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Home  Guards  in  King  and  Queen 
County,  Virginia.  He  went  into  the  Confed- 
eracy by  the  same  vessel  and  at  the  same  time 
with  Hull,  but  did  not  know  she  was  to  run 
the  blockade  when  she  started.  Neither  Hull 
or  McKee  know  who  loaded  the  schooner ; 
both  deny  all  knowledge  of  their  destination 
when  they  left  Philadelphia. 

Samuel  Lewis  was  a  member  of  the  9th 
Cavalry,  Virginia.  He  states  that  he  ran  the 
blockade  about  June  or  July,  1863.  He  sailed 
from  New  York  on  a  sloop  with  fifteen  or 
twenty  barrels  of  whiskey  on  board.  They 
anchored  under  Ragged  Point,  Virginia,  on 
the  Potomac  river,  where  they  unloaded  the 
whiskey.  For  some  reason  the  men  on  the 
sloop  got  frightened  and  left  him  on  the  beach. 
He  does  not  know  the  name  of  the  sloop  nor 
the  name  of  the  Captain,  nor  any  person  on 
board,  and  he,  like  the  other  two,  did  not  know 
that  the  vessel  intended  to  run  the  blockade. 

It  seems  strange  that  none  of  them  knew 

133 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

their  destination  when  they  shipped,  and  it 
also  seems  strange  that  after  sailing  from 
New  York  to  the  Potomac  river,  Wells  had 
not  learned  the  name  of  the  vessel  which  he 
was  on,  or  the  names  of  any  of  his  compan- 
ions. He  states  also  that  he  was  the  man  sent 
ashore  in  Virginia,  to  do  the  business,  but 
says  he  had  to  do  it  as  it  was  orders  from  his 
Captain. 

I  have  sent  two  detectives  to  see  the 
schooner  on  which  they  were  found,  and  to 
examine  the  cargo  as  it  is  discharged. 

I  am.  Colonel, 

Very  respy.  your  obdt.  servt., 
H.  B.  Smith, 
Lt.  &  Chief. 

The  following  letter  to  Mr.  Plyle,  introducing  me 
as  Mr.  Shafifer,  was  the  commencement  of  negotia- 
tions for  the  purchase  of  a  lot  of  Confederate  bonds, 
which  purchase  was  consummated  in  the  following 
November.  For  an  account  of  which  please  refer 
to  my  report  of  the  arrest  of  Brewer  and  Pittman, 
November  24th. 

Baltimore,  June  30,  1864. 
Mr.  Plyle. 

Sir. — I  expect  to  go  to  Norfolk  or  Rich- 
mond to-day.  I  send  my  partner,  Mr.  Shafifer, 
who  will  hand  you  this,  to  talk  with  you  about 

134 


INTRODUCED  AS  SHAFFER 

purchasing-  your  bonds.     He  will  answer  as 
well  as  I  in  the  matter. 

I  will  be  back  about  July  loth. 
Yours  respy., 

Sinclair. 
To  Col.  Plyle, 

Franklin  House. 


135 


FILE    XVII. 
A  Confederate  letter. 

The  following  discloses  how  perfectly  the  Con- 
federate government  understood  the  travelled  route 
through  the  lines.  It  was  by  way  of  their  signal 
station  on  the  Potomac,  that  was  their  official  chan- 
nel.   I  was  determined  to  break  it  up. 

Westmoreland  and  Northumberland  counties, 
Virginia,  are  the  south  shore  of  the  Potomac  river. 
Mosby,  or  at  least  part  of  his  command,  covered 
this  country. 

Confederate  States  of  America, 
War  Department,  Ordnance  Bureau, 
Richmond,  June  30,  1864. 

Captain : 

The  bearer,  Mr.  White,  is  confided  in  as 
trustworthy.  He  desires  information  as  to 
the  best  mode  of  proceeding  to  Maryland. 

I  will   thank  you  to  give  him  any  assist- 
ance you  can  consistently. 
136 


A  CONFEDERATE  LETTER 

Mr.  W.  is  eng^aged  in  procuring  stores  for 
the  Government,  through  the  blockade. 
Very  respy.  your  obdt.  servt., 
J.    GORGAS,   Col. 

Chief  of  Ordnance. 
To  Capt.  Barker, 

In  charge  Signal  Corps. 
Approved, 
By  order, 
J.  A.  Campbell, 

A.  Sec.  War, 
July   I,  1864. 

This  has  endorsed  on  it: 

Signal  Bureau, 
Richmond,  July  i,  1864. 
The  officers  in  charge  of  Signal  Station  on 
Potomac,    will    furnish    Mr.    White    any    as- 
sistance in  their  power,  in  crossing  into  Mary- 
land. 

Wm.  M.  Barker, 
Capt.  in  ch.  Signal  Corps. 


137 


FILE    XVIII. 

Confederate  army  invades  Maryland  in  1864 — General 
Wallace's  masterly  defence  of  Washington — Trip 
outside  our  pickets — Confederate  General  Bradley 
Johnson  and  Colonel  Harry  Gilmor — The  Ishmael 
Day  episode — Uncle  Zoe — Arrest  of  Judge  Richard 
Grason — Report  on  certain  "disloyals." 

About  this  time  our  efforts  were  pointed  in  an- 
other direction,  for  a  portion  of  Lee's  Army  had 
been  detached  and  had  begun  the  invasion  of  Mary- 
land (June  28,  1864). 

General  Wallace  gathered  up  his  scattered  troops 
and  prepared  to  meet  the  enemy  at  Monocacy.  He 
was  not  well  matched  to  meet  them,  but  strongly 
resisted  them  long  enough  to  enable  Grant  to  rein- 
force Washington,  and,  strategically  speaking,  Wal- 
lace's fight  saved  Washington. 

Appleton's  Encyclopedia,  page  130,  under  army 
operations  1864,  says: 

"Meantime  the  enemy  after  tearing  up  some 
railroad  from  Frederick  to  Baltimore,  sent 
their  main  body  south  of  it  and  detached  a 
cavalry  force  toward  the  Northern  Central 
Railroad  from  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  to  Baltimore. 

138 


CONFEDERATES   INVADE  MARYLAND 

This  Cavalry  expedition  overran  Maryland, 
25  miles  of  the  Northern  Central  Railroad  was 
destroyed,  and  on  Monday  the  nth  (July),  a 
force  appeared  on  the  Baltimore,  Wilmington 
&  Phila.  Road  and  captured  and  set  on  fire 
the  trains  at  Magnolia  station,  seventeen  miles 
south  of  Havre  de  Grace. 

In  one  train  Major  General  Franklin  was 
captured  but  afterwards  made  his  escape. 
Some  damage  was  done  to  the  track  and  Gun- 
powder Bridge  was  partially  burned.  The 
Cavalry  heavily  loaded  with  plunder  came 
within  six  miles  of  Baltimore,  then  turning 
southward  they  joined  the  force  near  Wash- 
ington which  had  been  sent  in  that  direction 
to  guard  against  surprise ;  part  of  it  halted  be- 
fore Fort  Stevens  on  17th  street." 

I  remained  in  Baltimore  until  July  14th,  when  I 
started  out  to  scout  the  country  east  and  north  of 
the  city. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 

Baltimore,  July  14,   1864. 
Pass  H.  B.  Smith  and  George  W.  Thomp- 
son on  Department  business  out  and  in  Picket 
Lines  at  all  hours. 

By  command  Major  General  Wallace. 

JOHX   WoOLLEY, 

Lt.  Cof.  &  Pro.  Marshal. 
139 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

General  Wallace  had  been  compelled  (by  Lee's 
invasion)  to  take  away  to  Monocacy  nearly  all  of 
his  troops,  and  so  we  had  to  appeal  to  the  citizens 
for  the  defence  of  the  city.  All  loyal  citizens  were 
appealed  to  and  they  responded  nobly ;  they  made, 
however,  a  motley  army,  but  patriotic  to  the  core, 
they  vigorously  performed  their  duty. 

I  had  a  serious  experience  with  them  when  I 
tried  to  get  inside  our  picket  lines.  We  scoured 
the  country  quite  thoroughly. 

I  find  among  my  papers  no  copy  of  a  written  re- 
port except  the  one  I  find  endorsed  on  and  in  con- 
nection with  the  report  on  Judge  Grason's  arrest 
on  July  24th,  which  is  the  following: 

"When  Bradley  Johnson's  Brigade,and  Har- 
ry Gilmor's  Cavalry  was  in  Maryland,  and  af- 
ter they  destroyed  the  Gunpowder  Bridge  on 
the  Philadelphia  Wilmington  and  Baltimore 
Railroad,  one  of  my  detectives  named  Thomp- 
son and  myself  went  out  past  the  Pickets  on 
the  Philadelphia  Pike  as  far  as  the  Rechabite 
Church  and  then   changed  onto    the    Belair 

road,   where   I  hailed   a  man   named   

,   who   was  afterwards   causfht   with   a 


wagon  loaded  with  contraband  goods  intended 
for  the  Rcbs.  He  talked  to  me  for  some 
time.  I  told  him  that  I  wanted  to  get  to  see 
Harry  Gilmor,  that  I  was  from  New  York, 
and  that  if  Gilmor  remained  long  enough  in 
140 


WALLACE'S  MASTERLY  DEFENCE 

Maryland,    I   could   get    some    recruits    from 
New  York. 

This  man  offered  me  money  to  aid  me  in 
this  glorious  enterprise.  He  told  me  that  if 
I  would  go  over  to  Towsontown  and  see  Rich- 
ard Grason,  that  he  (Grason)  could  tell  me 
just  where  Gilmor  could  be  seen.  This  man 
also  told  me  about  the  man  that  Ishmael  Day 
shot. 

We  left  him  and  went  over  to  Towsontown, 
where  we  had  dinner  and  then  went  into  Bal- 
timore, after  being  arrested  by  (our)  pickets 
almost  every  mile. 

That  evening  we  again  started  out  for 
Towsontown ;  at  Govanstown  we  were  sur- 
rounded by  about  ten  or  twelve  of  the  13th 
Md.,  who  lowered  their  pieces  at  us  and  de- 
manded us  to  dismount ;  Thompson  did  so  im- 
mediately, but  I  used  more  time.  They  said 
they  had  been  waiting  for  us  for  some  time. 
This  of  course  was  an  error ;  finally  we  were 
released  and  proceeded  on  our  way.  We  could 
not  find  Grason. 

On  our  way  back  we  were  again  arrested 
by  some  of  the  Citizen  Cavalry,  but  got  back 
into  Baltimore  at  about  2  A.  M. 

(From  the  Baltimore  "American,"  July  12,  1864.) 

"Major  Harry  Gilmor,  who,   from  a  mis- 
guided leniency,  if  not  something  worse,  was 
141 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

released  from  capture  by  General  Wool,  dur- 
ing his  administration  of  affairs  in  this  De- 
partment, was  the  commander  of  the  Rebels 
who  have  worked  so  much  destruction  of  prop- 
erty in  this  immediate  vicinity. 

After  his  successful  plundering  operations 
in  Carroll  and  Frederick  Counties  he  con- 
cluded to  visit  his  own  county  and  receive  the 
congratulations  of  his  friends  and  admirers. 
On  Sunday  he  spent  the  day  and  evening  at 
Glen  Ellen,  above  Towsontown,  at  the  resi- 
dence of  his  father,  Mr.  Robert  Gilmor,  and 
no  doubt  a  very  pleasant  time  was  had. 

A  force  of  about  three  hundred  of  his  com- 
panions are  said  to  have  been  encamped  in  that 
vicinity.  On  Sunday  a  delegation  of  five 
visited  Towsontown  and  the  joy  of  the  Rebel 
males  and  females  of  that  neighborhood  is 
said  to  be  beyond  description.  Mr.  Richard 
Grason  who  frequently  performs  the  office  of 
special  Judge  of  the  County,  was  unable  to 
restrain  his  emotion  and  kindly  feelings  to 
his  friends,  and  took  them  to  his  dwelling 
where  they  feasted  and  whiskeyed  to  their 
hearts  content." 

Judge  Grason  in  trying  to  escape  arrest  for  his 
disloyal  acts  in  connection  with  Harry  Gilmor, 
tried  to  use  a  stolen  pass  issued  to  an  assumed 
name,  "Jenkins."  I  remember  well  my  lecture  to 
him  on  the  heinousness  of  his  offence.  It  was  pic- 
142 


COLONEL  HARRY  GILMOR 

turesque,  a  boy  chiding  a  judge.     But  it  was  due 
him. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 

Baltimore,  July  24,  1864. 
•Lieut.  Col.  Woolley, 
Provost  Marshal. 

Colonel.— I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  ar- 
rest yesterday  of  Judge  Grason  of  Towson- 
town. 

I  questioned  him;  he  stated  that  a  good 
friend  of  his  whose  name  he  refused  to  give, 
procured  a  blank  pass  and  he  filled  in  the 
name,  residence  and  destination  and  attempted 
to  pass  on  it. 

I  asked  him  the  reason  for  assuming  the 
name  ''Jenkins."  He  said  he  understood  he 
was  to  be  arrested  and  did  not  want  to  be 
detained.  He  said  he  received  a  letter  from 
his  home  (near  Queenstown),  stating  that 
his  father  was  very  poorly,  and  wanted  to  see 
him. 

I  asked  him  where  the  letter  was.  He  said 
he  threw  it  in  the  stove  and  burned  it  up.  I 
asked  if  it  was  in  his  kitchen  stove  at  home. 
He  said  no.  that  it  was  in  his  office  stove.  I 
asked  him  if  he  had  a  fire  in  his  office  stove 
(July).  He  said  no,  but  that  he  set  fire  to 
the  letter  from  his  pipe  that  he  was  smok- 
ing. 

He  said  he  first  heard  he  was  to  be  arrested 

143 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

about  the  nth,  or  12th  inst.,  and  acknowl- 
edged to  having  kept  out  of  the  way  as  he  did 
not  want  to  be  arrested  then,  as  it  would  be 
some  time,  probably,  before  he  could  get  a 
hearing,  on  account  of  the  pressure  of  busi- 
ness on  the  Military  Authorities. 

He  is  everywhere  known  as  being  a  bitter 
Rebel.  He  acknowledged  to  have  spoken  to 
Harry  Gilmor  while  in  Towsontown,  but  said 
it  was  only  to  get  him  to  save  some  property. 

He  said  he  would  rather  receive  the  punish- 
ment than  to  allow  the  friend  who  gave  him 
the  pass  to  be  punished. 

I  am,  Colonel, 

Very  respy.  your  obdt.  servt., 
H.  B.  Smith, 
Lt.  &  Chief. 

The  Ishmael  Day  incident  was  quite  as  romantic, 
or  dramatic,  as  the  "Barbara  Freitchie"  episode,  but 
it  was  never  dwelt  upon,  however,  by  the  poets, 
nor  can  it  be  demolished  as  a  myth.  Ishmael  Day, 
single  handed  and  alone,  defended  his  little  minia- 
ture flag  against  the  Confederate  hosts.  The  inci- 
dent rang  over  the  country  through  the  press. 

My  uncle,  Zoeth  Smith,  a  patriot  indeed,  wrote 
me  to  get  Ishmael's  picture,  which  I  did.  Recently, 
in  looking  over  my  papers,  I  found  Uncle  Zoe's  let- 
ter and  sent  it  to  his  sons,  Truman  and  Addison, 
to  show  them  the  manner  of  man  their  father  was 
when  loyalty  was  needed. 

144 


ISHMAEL    1)A\. 


THE  ISHMAEL  DAY  EPISODE 

The  following  appeared  in  the  newspapers: 

"We  had  the  pleasure  this  morning  of  an 
interview  with  Mr.  Ishmael  Day  who  yester- 
day morning  shot  down  one  of  Harry  Gilmor's 
men  whilst  in  the  act  of  taking  down  the  flag 
over  his  gate  in  Harford  County.  He  gives 
the  following  correct  statement :  'On  Sun- 
day night  he  had  heard  that  a  party  of  Rebels 
were  encamped  in  the  vicinity,  but  did  not  give 
credence  to  the  report.  Early  on  Monday 
morning  one  of  his  negroes  reported  to  him 
that  they  were  coming  down  the  road.  He 
immediately  hoisted  his  flag  over  the  gate,  and 
shortly  after,  two  armed  men  came  riding 
along  the  road  and  one  seeing  the  flag  burst 
out  with  a  loud  laugh,  one  of  them  advanc- 
ing and  seizing  the  halliards. 

The  old  gentleman,  who  is  nearly  seventy- 
three  years  of  age,  ran  back  into  the  house, 
threatening  to  shoot  them  if  they  did  not  de- 
sist. They  paid  no  attention  to  him,  but  the 
halliards  being  twisted  they  had  some  diffi- 
culty in  getting  it  down.  By  this  time  he 
had  reached  his  second  story,  where  his  guns 
were,  and  raising  the  window  fired  a  load 
from  his  duck  gun  just  as  the  miscreant  had 
succeeded  in  getting  hold  of  the  flag,  and  he 
fell  back  on  the  road  seriously,  and  he  thinks, 
mortally  wounded,  the  whole  load  having  en- 
tered his  breast. 

Seizing  another  gun  and  a  loaded  Colt's  re- 

145 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

volver,  he  came  down  stairs  and  endeavored 
to  get  a  shot  at  the  other,  but  he  had  run  up 
the  road.  He  then,  in  his  anger,  leveled  at  the 
wounded  man,  but  he  begged  for  mercy,  and 
said  he  surrendered,  and  Mr.  Day,  thinking 
that  he  would  never  be  able  to  haul  down  an- 
other flag,  left  him  lying  on  the  road. 

Hearing  the  approach  of  a  large  squad  Mr. 
Day  escaped  with  his  weapons  to  the  woods 
and  eluded  their  pursuit.  Mrs.  Day  was  still 
in  the  house  when  the  Rebels  came  up,  and 
they  immediately  commenced  to  set  fire  to  it 
after  plundering  it  of  such  articles  as  they 
took  a  fancy  to,  and  then  set  fire  to  it  as  well 
as  his  barn,  which  were  entirely  destroyed. 
They  did  not  allow  Mrs.  Day  to  save  even  her 
clothing,  and  he  fears  that  some  two  thousand, 
three  hundred  dollars  of  Government  Bonds 
were  destroyed  with  his  deeds  and  papers.  He 
has  not  yet  seen  Mrs.  Day,  who  found  refuge 
for  herself  and  family  in  one  of  the  neighbor's 
houses. 

The  only  regret  of  the  gallant  old  patriot  is 
that  he  did  not  get  a  shot  at  the  other  Rebel.' 

We  learn  this  morning  that  the  man  who 
was  shot  by  Mr.  Day  was  named  Fields,  for- 
merly of  Baltimore ;  that  he  was  left  by  the 
Rebels  at  Dampman's  Hotel,  fifteen  miles 
from  the  city  on  the  Belair  Road." 

After  the  Confederates  retreated  I  made  a  thor- 
ough examination  into  the  disloyal  conduct  of  va- 
>  146 


ARREST  OF  JUDGE  GRASON 

rious  persons  residing  east  and  north  of  Baltimore, 
for  the  purpose,  more  particularly,  to  guide  us  in 
the  future.    The  following  is  my  report: 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 

Baltimore,  Aug.  7,   1864. 
Lt.  Col.  Woolley, 

Provost  Marshal. 
Colonel. — I   have   the  honor  to   report   the 
connection   of   the    following   named   persons 
with  the  Rebel  raiders. 

Herewith  I  hand  you  a  transcript  of  the  evi- 
dence in  each  case. 

No  arrests  have  been  made  in  these  cases. 
I  am,  Colonel, 

Very  respy.  your  obdt.  servt., 
H.  B.  Smith, 
Lt.  &  Chief. 

List  of  Names. 

Andrew  Gill,  Henry  Balton, 

Stephen  Gill,  Mai  Guyton, 

Charles  Alden,  Wm.  Price, 

Jackson  Dorney,  Henry  Wesley, 

J.  Berryman,  John  Y.  Day, 

Harriman,  S.  Berryman, 

Jones,  Benj.  Worthington, 


Francis  Shipley,  Samuel  Stone 

Chas.  Shipley,  Jas.  Reynolds, 

John  T.  Johns,  Walker, 

147 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

Henry  Walker,  Mat.  Shorman, 

Murray  Gill,  Marion  Guyton, 

Wm.  Gore,  David  Gittings, 

Ed.  Storm,  Henry  Emmick, 

Robert  Elder,  Wm.  Lowrey, 

Smith,  John  Grovner, 

Jos.  Scarborough,  Jas.  Mannon, 

Wm.  Knight,  Miss  Lizzie  Grason. 


148 


FILE   XIX. 

Trip  to  New  York  regarding  one  Thomas  H.  Gordon. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 

Baltimore,  Aug.  13,  1864. 
Special  Order  No.  in. 

I  St  Lieut.  H.  B.  Smith,  Commanding  De- 
tective Corps,  8th  Army  Corps,  will  proceed 
to  New  York  on  business  connected  with  this 
office.  After  completing  his  search  and  inves- 
tigation he  will  return  to  these  headquarters 
without  delay. 

Quartermasters  will  furnish  transportation. 
By  command  of  Major  General  Wallace. 
John  Woolley, 
Lt.  Col.  &  Pro.  Marshal. 

The  following  is  the  report  of  the  case  I  went  to 
New  York  about : 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 
Baltimore,  Aug.  24,  1864. 
Lt.  Col.  V/oolley, 

Provost  Marshal. 
Colonel. — I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  f  ol- 

149 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

lowing  in   the  case  of  Thomas   H.   Gordon, 
paymaster. 

I  have  on  your  order  procured  the  check 
book  ordered  by  him.  Mess.  Hoen  &  Co.  say 
they  have  written  to  Nashville  and  Washing- 
ton but  have  had  no  reply. 

I  also  hand  you  two  letters,  one  from  Gor- 
don and  one  from  Galloway,  both  in  the  same 
handwriting,  as  you  will  see  on  close  examin- 
ation. 

Gordon  represents  himself  as  Captain. 

The  checks  are  entirely  different  from  the 
usual  paymaster's  checks  that  are  furnished 
by  the  United  States  depository. 

I  am,  Colonel, 

Very  respy.  your  obdt.  servt., 
H.  B.  Smith, 
Lt.  &  Chief. 


150 


FILE   XX. 

Thomas  Bennett,  a  U.  S.  mail  carrier,  disloyal — Sam- 
uel Miles,  a  prominent  Baltimore  merchant,  a 
blockade  runner — A  laughable  letter  about  an 
overdraft  of  whiskey — Dr.  E.  Powell,  of  Rich- 
mond. 

As  our  work  progressed,  we  accumulated  from 
Confederate  mail,  refugees  and  deserters,  a  mass 
of  information  as  to  the  disloyalty  of  persons,  which 
was  carefully  tabulated  in  a  pigeonhole  cabinet;  we 
were  constantly  referring  to  it. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 

Baltimore,  Aug.  17,  1864. 

Col.  Woolley: 

I  have  information  that  a  Thomas  Ben- 
nett, U.  S.  mail  carrier  between  Princess  Ann 
and  Newtown  is  in  the  Confederate  service 
and  is  engaged  to  carry  letters,  &c.,  for  them. 
Let  Smith  put  a  sharp  detective  after  him. 
Mr.  E.  J.  Smith  will  talk  with  you  about  it. 

Lew  Wallace, 
Major  General  Commanding. 

151 


BETWEEN   THE   LINES 

War  Department, 
Washington,  Sept.  i6,  1864. 

Memo. 

Mr.  J.  P.  Gulick,  policeman  at  the  Capitol 
grounds,  gives  information  to  the  Depart- 
ment that  Samuel  Miles,  a  wholesale  forward- 
ing merchant  in  Baltimore,  has  been  engaged 
in  sending  goods  to  the  South. 

Mr.  Gulick  lived  at  Wycomico  Creek  for 
some  time  during  the  war  and  while  there  ob- 
served the  transaction,  the  goods  coming  to 
that  point  direct  from  Miles,  and  being  from 
there  run  over  into  Little  River  by  Samuel 
Langford,  Miles's  nephew. 

The  following  is  a  Confederate  letter  addressed 
to  Samuel  G.  Miles,  referred  to  by  Mr.  Gulick. 
Miles  was  a  merchant  in  high  standing  commer- 
cially.    The  letter  is  reproduced  literally: 

Monticello,  Va., 
Feby.  29,  1864. 

Mr.  Miles. 

Sir. — I  take  this  privaledge  to  write  to  you 
asking  the  favour  of  you  to  send  me  by  the 
gentleman  that  may  hand  you  this  letter  to 
send  me  a  few  articles,  you  are  well  aware  of 
our  condition  as  to  getting  grocerys  or  a  great 
many  other  things.  Mr.  Miles  you  will  confer 
a  great  favour  upon  me  to  let  me  have  a  barril 

152 


A  BLOCKADE  RUNNER 

of  sugar,  one  bag  of   coffee,   5   lbs.  of  tea, 
15  gal.  of  Rye  Whiskey. 

I  would  have  sent  money  but  you  know 
that  our  money  would  not  be  of  any  survace  to 
you.  But  if  you  send  the  above  articles 
whether  I  get  them  or  no  you  shall  certainly 
be  paid. 

I  was  very  sorry  that  I  could  not  see  you 
when  you  pass  through  to  Richmond,  as  it 
would  have  afforded  me  great  pleasure  to 
have  you  at  my  house. 

Give  my  respects  to  Mr.  Langford  and  all 
enquiring  friends.  If  it  is  not  in  your  power 
to  send  the  above  name  articles  you  will  do 
me  the  favour  to  present  this  letter  to  Mr. 
Thomas  Lumking  and  perhaps  he  may  send 
them.  By  so  doing  you  will  oblige, 
Your  Friend, 
Henry  D.  Barrick. 

To 

Mr.  Samuel  G.  Miles. 


The  quantity  of  rye  whiskey,  compared  to  the 
other  articles  seemed  pretty  large.  It  reminds  me 
of  the  story  of  the  sloop  captain  who  sent  his  man 
for  supplies  for  a  trip.  The  man  brought  two 
loaves  of  bread  and  a  gallon  of  whiskey,  at  which 
the  captain  growled  out  "what  made  you  buy  so 
much  bread?" 

15^ 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 
And  here  is  another  Confederate  letter: 

Richmond,  Va., 
Oct.  24,  1864. 
Mr.  Steele. 

Dear  Sir. — I  have  been  waiting  very  anx- 
iously to  hear  if  you  had  succeeded  in  mak- 
ing the  arrangements  with  Allison  to  take  us 
to  Baltimore. 

If  it  is  possible  to  get  Allison  or  any  other 
person  with  a  schooner  to  make  the  trip  to 
Baltimore  and  bring  back  goods,  make  the  ar- 
rangement for  the  trip  and  let  me  know  when 
I  am  to  come  down  and  I  will  come  prepared 
to  make  the  trip. 

Any  goods  you  may  wish  to  bring  I  will 
take  through  in  my  name.     Let  me  hear  from 
you  as  soon  as  you  can  hear  from  Allison. 
Your  obdt.  servant, 

Dr.  E.  Powell. 
Cor.  Main  &  loth  Sts., 

Richmond,  Va. 


154 


FILE  XXI. 
Terrence  R.   Quinn. 

Terrence  R.  Quinn,  previously  spoken  of,  backed 
by  his  military  friends,  complained  of  abuse  which 
he  alleged  was  put  upon  him  by  our  officers,  and 
I  was  called  upon  to  make  the  following  statement 
in  reply : 

Office  Provost  Marshal, 
Baltimore,  Md., 

Oct.  20,  1864. 

Lt.  Col.  Woolley, 

Provost  Marshal. 

Colonel. — I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  fol- 
lowing statement  regarding  the  arrest  of  Ter- 
rence R.  Quinn,  and  the  causes  for  such  ar- 
rest. 

On  or  about  March  18,  1864.  I  arrested 
Quinn  by  order  of  Major  H.  Z.  Hayner,  then 
Provost  Marshal  of  this  Department. 

This  arrest  was  caused  by  statements  made 
by  one  John  W.  Lewis,  to  the  efTect  that  dur- 
ing a  period  of  six  or  eight  months  then  last 
past,  at  different  times  Quinn  had  stated  to 

155 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

him  that  he  was  engaged  in  running  the  block- 
ade and  held  out  great  inducements  for  Lewis 
to  join  him.  He  (Quinn)  stating  that  he  was 
the  owner  of  several  schooners,  and  told  how 
he  got  clear  on  a  former  charge  of  the  same 
kind,  at  the  same  time  admitting  his  guilt. 

On  searching  Quinn's  house,  No.  2^  Con- 
stitution street,  I  found  a  great  many  letters 
addressed  to  parties  in  Richmond,  Confederate 
officers  and  others,  which  were  letters  of  intro- 
duction, stating  that  it  was  Mr.  Terrence  R. 
Quinn's  intention  to  visit  Richmond  and  rec- 
ommending him  as  "always  a  friend  of  the 
South." 

These  letters  were  written  by  Rebel  officers 
in  confinement  at  Fort  McHenry.  There  were 
also  other  letters  showing  that  Quinn  had 
aided  in  defrauding  the  government  out  of 
'some  bonds,  and  letters  corroborating  Quinn's 
statements  in  regard  to  contraband  trade.  All 
of  these  letters  were  given  to  Major  Hayner. 

On  arresting  Quinn  I  took  him  in  a  car- 
riage to  Vineyard  Hotel,  as  it  was  deemed 
proper  to  keep  him  closely  confined  until  I 
could  have  time  to  go  to  the  Eastern  shore  of 
Va.,  and  seize  his  schooners. 

He  was  given  a  fine  room  at  this  hotel  and 
his  expenses,  about  seventeen  dollars  per  week 
were  all  paid  by  me.  He  was  placed  under  a 
Military  guard,  and  was  afterwards  trans- 
ferred to  the  prison  attached  to  this  office,  for 

156 


TERRENCE  R.   QUINN 

examination  by  an  officer  sent  here  by  the 
Secretary  of  War. 

On  seizings  Quinn's  schooners  I  found  Capt. 
J.  J.  Lewis  in  command  of  one.  This  Lewis 
was  formerly  arrested  and  confined  in  Fort 
McHenry  on  a  charg-e  of  blockade  running. 
He  admitted  his  guilt  to  me  but  stated  that  he 
was  released  without  a  trial.  He  is  a  speci- 
men of  the  characters  in  Quinn's  employ. 

In  1862  Quinn  was  arrested  on  charge  of 
blockade  running  but  was  released  without 
trial.  He  stated  to  Lewis  that  he  was  guilty 
but  the  government  was  not  smart  enough  to 
prove  it. 

I  again  caused  the  arrest  of  Quinn  on  Sept. 
8,  1864,  on  an  order  from  General  Stevenson, 
commanding  at  Harper's  Ferry,  on  the 
charge  of  running  negroes  away  from  Ya., 
on  forged  passes.  General  Stevenson  also  ord- 
ered search  for  passes.  I  also  caused  the 
arrest  of  a  negro  named  Andrew  Jackson, 
who  stated  that  Quinn  tried  to  get  him  in  the 
army  as  a  substitute,  and  also  that  he  did  not 
go  to  the  Provost  Marshal  for  a  pass  but  that 
Quinn  sent  another  negro. 

As  to  his  being  treated  brutally :  When  ar- 
rested he  was  intoxicated,  and  two  or  three 
times  called  the  officers  names,  whereupon  the 
officers  struck  him,  once  only.  My  first  ac- 
quaintance with  Quinn  was  when  I  was  As- 
sistant Provost  Marshal  at  Fort  McHenry. 

'^7 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

He  claims  that  he  is  a  British  subject  and 
not  amenable  to  our  laws. 
I  am,  Colonel, 

Very  respy.  your  obdt.  servt., 
H.  B.  Smith, 
Lt.  &  Chief. 


158 


FILE    XXIL 

The  great  fraud  attempted  in  the  Presidential  election 
of  1864,  wherein  the  misplacing  of  a  single  letter 
led  to  its  detection,  and  may  be  said  to  have  saved 
our  nation  from  disruption — Involving  Governor 
Seymour  and  Adjutant  General  Andrews — Arrest 
of  Ferry,  Donohue  and  Newcomb,  one  of  the 
most   successful  kidnappings   on  record. 

The  Presidential  election  of  1864  was  then  upon 
us,  and  indeed  it  was  most  momentous.  The  issue 
was  to  determine  the  life  of  this  Union.  Mr.  Lin- 
coln was  renominated,  and  General  George  B.  Mc- 
Clellan  was  nominated  to  run  against  him.  And 
quite  fittingly,  Horatio  Seymour,  who  was  to  have 
been  leader  of  secession  in  the  North  (according  to 
my  information),  who  had  lent  his  whole  influence 
towards  obstruction,  was  made  chairman  of  the 
convention   that   nominated   McClellan. 

A  resolution  of  the  convention  read: 

"Resolved,  that  this  Convention  does  ex- 
plicitly declare,  as  the  sense  of  the  American 
people,  that  after  four  years  of  failure  to  re- 
store the  Union  by  experiment  of  War  *  *  * 

159 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

the  public   welfare   demands   that   immediate 
efforts  be  made  for  a  cessation  of  hostilities." 

In  the  convention  Mr.  Wickliffe,  of  Kentucky, 
said: 

"The  delegates  from  the  West  were  of  the 
opinion  that  circumstances  may  occur  between 
noon  of  to-day  and  the  4th  of  March  next 
(inaugai ration  day)  which  will  make  it  proper 
for  the  Democracy  of  the  Country  to  meet  in 
Convention  again." 

What  could  he  have  referred  to?  Solve  the  rid- 
dle if  you  can.  Ponder  on  a  "Northwestern  Con- 
federacy" ;  the  Sons  of  Liberty,  and  the  seizure  of 
their  arms ;  and  also  on  Lincoln's  assassination, 
only  a  few  days  after  March  4th,  1865. 

All  of  this  leads  me  to  what  I  am  about  to  tell 
about  that  election,  wherein  the  same  influences  that 
failed  with  bullets  to  disrupt  the  Union  were  now 
trying  to  accomplish  the  same  purpose  with  ballots. 

I  will  not  charge  McClellan  with  disloyalty,  yet 
I  can  not  help  asking  why  did  he  lend  his  name 
to  the  disloyal  movement?  There  were  disloyal 
Northerners,  but  not  one  of  them  voted  for  Lincoln. 

I  do  not  claim  that  all  who  voted  for  McClellan 
were  disloyal,  but  that  all  the  disloyal,  including 
all  blockade-runners  and  bounty  jumpers,  voted  for 
him. 

On  the  2 1st  of  April,  1864,  a  law  was  enacted  in 

160 


FRAUD  IN  PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTION 

New  York  State  called  "an  act  to  enable  the  quali- 
fied electors  of  this  State,  absent  therefrom  in  the 
military  service  of  the  United  States,  in  the  Army 
or  navy  thereof,  to  vote." 

This  law  provided  for  a  power  of  attorney  ap- 
pointing a  proxy  who  would  present  his  (the  sol- 
dier's) sealed  envelope,  addressed  to  the  election 
inspectors  in  his  home  or  residence  district.  The 
ballot  was  to  be  in  a  sealed  envelope,  and  to  be 
opened  only  by  the  inspectors ;  this  envelope  was 
to  be  enclosed  in  another,  outer  envelope  addressed 
to  his  proxy.  The  outer  envelope  was  to  contain 
also  the  power  of  attorney  for  the  proxy  to  so  pre- 
sent the  sealed  ballot. 

And  now  I  will  tell  you  how  merely  the  misplac- 
ing of  the  letter  "L"  betrayed  one  of  tlte  greatest 
crimes  of  the  period,  entirely  defeated  its  perpetra- 
tion, and  helped  to  save  our  Union. 

On  Thursday  afternoon,  October  20th,  1864,  Gen- 
eral Wallace  came  to  my  office  with  Mr.  Orville  K. 
Wood,  of  Clinton  county.  New  York. 

Mr.  Wood  had  a  blank  or  partly  blank  document 
which  he  had  found  in  possession  of  a  soldier  from 
his  county.    It  was  a  blank  power  of  attorney,  such 
as  were  provided  for  voting  under  the  law  of  April 
2ist,  1864.    The  jurat  was  signed  in  blank: 
C.  G.  Arthur 
Lieut,  nth  U.  S.  Cavl. 
— and  their  conclusion   was  that  this  officer  may 

161 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

have  signed  a  number  of  such  papers  in  blank,  and 
passed  them  out,  to  be  used  by  any  soldier,  perhaps 
to  facilitate  voting;  an  illegal  act  in  itself;  but  upon 
examination  I  pronounced  the  officer's  signature  a 
forgery.  My  conclusion  was  based  on  the  fact  of 
the  letter  "1"  in  "Cavl."  I  assumed  that  no  officer 
of  cavalry,  more  especially  in  the  regular  service, 
would  abbreviate  in  any  way  other  than  Cav.  or 
Cavy. 

General  Wallace  saw  the  force  of  my  reasoning, 
and  a  new  light  was  thrown  on  the  matter. 

Had  the  one  letter  "1"  been  absent  I  should  have 
concluded  as  General  Wallace  and  Mr.  Wood  had, 
i.e.,  that  the  fact  of  such  a  document,  entirely  blank 
except  the  officer's  jurat,  being  in  public  hands,  was 
a  wrong  merely  laying  the  officer  liable  for  having 
attached  his  name  to  a  blank  paper. 

The  point  then  was  to  find  out  where  the  work 
was  done.  Mr.  Wood  had  visited  the  New  York 
State  agency  office  in  Fayette  Street  and  I  arranged 
for  him  to  go  there  again  the  next  morning  (Fri- 
day), he  to  tell  the  representative,  Mr.  Ferry,  that 
some  friends  would  call  to  be  assisted  in  preparing 
their  votes.  We  agreed  that  my  name  would  be 
"Phillip  Brady,"  from  West  Chazy,  Clinton  County, 
New  York. 

Friday  morning  I  equipped  myself  as  became  a 
private  soldier,  in  a  uniform  much  worn  and  shabby. 
One  of  my  men,  Mr.  Babcock,  accompanied  me, 
162 


LUCIUS    F.    BABCOCK. 


A  SINGLE  LETTER  BETRAYED 

he  was  similarly  attired.  We  provided  ourselves 
with  "2  hour"  passes  from  the  Camden  Street  Hos- 
pital, and  sicker  looking  convalescents  never  were 
seen  outside  of  a  hospital.  When  we  arrived  at 
Ferry's  office  we  appeared  much  exhausted.  Mr. 
Wood  introduced  me,  and  then  I  insisted  on  Mr. 
Ferry's  reading  my  pass  so  that  he  would  know  ex- 
actly who  I  was ;  I  told  him  I  wanted  to  vote  for 
Mr.  Lincoln,  because  he  was  the  soldier's  friend. 

He  went  in  an  adjoining  room  and  brought  out 
one  of  the  same  powers  of  attorney  that  Mr.  Wood 
had  shown  me  the  day  before,  for  me  to  sign;  the 
jurat  was  executed  and  the  ink  was  not  yet  dry  on 
it.  To  give  myself  more  time  to  examine,  I  hesi- 
tated in  signing  my  name,  I  was  so  sickly  (  ?)  and 
weak,  I  had  Mr.  Ferry  help  guide  my  hand.  I  had 
by  this  time  located  Mr.  "Arthur"  in  the  next  room. 

Mr.  Ferry  then  discovered  he  had  no  Lincoln 
ballots,  but  said  he  expected  them  from  the  printer. 
He  volunteered,  if  I  would  leave  it  to  him,  to  put 
in  a  proper  ticket,  and  mail  it  for  me,  to  which  I 
consented.  I  told  him  I  did  not  know  when  I  might 
get  another  pass. 

Ferry  gave  me  a  plug  of  tobacco  and  a  pair  of 
socks,  to  illustrate,  T  suppose,  the  Empire  State's 
interest  in  her  volunteers. 

Babcock  then  went   through  the   same  process, 
which  gave  me  all  the  time  needed  to  survey  the 
surroundings,  whereupon  we  left. 
163 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

Mr.  Wood  remained,  but  came  out  afterwards 
and  met  me  by  appointment,  on  Charles  Street.  He 
was  startled  at  the  condition  of  affairs  in  the  State 
Agent's  office,  where  a  corps  of  men  were  engaged 
in  forgery,  and  did  not  want  to  return  there,  but 
was  persuaded  to  go  back  and  put  in  the  day.  The 
character  and  magnitude  of  the  crime  prompted  us 
to  great  secrecy. 

The  next  day  (Saturday)  General  Wallace  went 
to  Washington.  A  Cabinet  meeting  was  held  to 
consider  the  election  frauds. 

Next  morning  (Sunday),  the  following  order  was 
issued  by  General  Wallace,  personally,  and  is  in  his 
handwriting : 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 
Baltimore,  Md.,  Oct.  23,  1864. 
Lt.  Col.  John  Woolley, 
Provost  Marshal. 
You  will  immediately  arrest  the  following 
persons:  M.  J.  Ferry,  Ed.  Donohue,  Jr.,  and 
such  clerks,  assistants,  &c.,  as  they  may  have 
in  the  office  of  the  New  York  State  Agency  in 
Baltimore.     You  will  also  seize  and  take  into 
your  possession  all  books,  papers,  letters.  &c., 
which  you  may  find  on  the  persons  or  in  the 
rooms    and    baggage    of    the    persons    above 
named. 

The   prisoners    you    will    lake   to   the    City 
164 


GOVERNOR  SEYMOUR  AGAIN 

jail  and  confine  them  separately,  allowing  no 
visitor  to  have  communication  with  or  the 
prisoners  to  have  communication  in  any  man- 
ner with  each  other. 

Lew  Wallace, 
Major  General  Commanding. 
(You  will  also  station  a  guard  at  the  door 
of  the  office  of  said  Agency.  L.  W.) 

Upon  my  request  to  be  allowed  to  conduct  the 
arrests  and  seizures  in  my  own  way,  the  General 
ran  a  pen  through  the  words  that  are  bracketed. 

It  was  my  desire  to  kidnap  the  parties,  so  that 
warning  might  be  given  to  other  places,  such  as 
Washington,  Harper's  Ferry  and  City  Point,  to  look 
out  for  similar  crimes,  to  accomplish  which  it  was 
desirable  to  leave  behind  each  person,  at  his  home 
or  office,  a  reasonable  excuse  for  his  absence  for  a 
few  days,  and  to  keep  the  State  Agency  office  open 
to  callers. 

I  employed  a  hack  and  a  confidential  driver,  one 
used  to  me,  and  who  would  carry  out  instructions 
to  the  letter. 

With  one  of  my  men  I  drove  to  near  the  State 
Agency  Office.  We  entered  and  were  met  by  Dono- 
hue,  who  was  alone  (it  was  early  Sunday  A.M.) 
and  was  pugnacious  when  he  was  made  aware  of 
his  dilemma.  I  arranged  with  him,  that  for  friendly 
appearances,  we  would  walk  out  arm  in  arm  to  our 
carriage.     Then  we  were  whisked  away  to  my  of- 

165 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

fice.  I  left  Mr.  Kraft,  one  of  my  men,  in  the 
office  to  run  it  and  tell  callers  that  Donohue  had 
"gone  out." 

I  learned  from  Donohue  that  Ed.  Newcomb  was 
stopping  at  Barnum's  hotel.  At  the  hotel  I  found 
Newcomb's  room  number,  went  to  it  and  rapped  on 
the  door.  I  informed  him  there  was  a  party  from 
New  York  at  the  office,  and  that  Donohue  wanted 
him  at  once ;  he  accompanied  me  out  the  private 
entrance  and  into  my  carriage.  After  a  while  he 
remarked  that  the  driver  was  not  going  right.  I 
told  him  I  was  a  stranger  but  I  guessed  the  driver 
knew  the  way;  finally  I  told  him  of  his  position, 
that  he  would  meet  Donohue,  but  not  at  the  State 
Agency  office. 

When  we  came  near  our  office  I  changed  hats 
with  him  to  prevent  recognition.  An  Albany  regi- 
ment, the  91st,  was  guarding  our  office — Newcomb 
was  an  Albany  lawyer.  I  placed  him  in  my  office 
with  Donohue,  but  with  officers  both  inside  and  out- 
side the  door.  I  took  his  pocketbook,  room-door 
key,  and  papers,  and  I  returned  to  Barnum's  to 
"put  them  to  sleep." 

Shawls  were  commonly  used  then,  especially  by 
Northerners.  I  searched  his  room,  muffled  myself 
up  in  his  shawl,  presented  his  key  at  the  desk,  asked 
for  and  paid  his  bill,  putting  the  receipt  in  his 
pocketbook,  and  told  them  that  Mr.  Newcomb 
would  stop  over  Sunday  and  a  few  days  with 
166 


GOVERNOR  SEYMOUR  AGAIN 

friends,  in  case  of  inquiry.  I  handed  Newcomb 
his  pocketbook  and  baggage. 

Meantime  Mr.  Kraft  was  running  the  State 
Agency  office,  answering  callers  all  right. 

The  next  move  was  to  get  Mr.  Ferry,  who  re- 
sided in  the  far  west  end  of  the  city.  I  drove  out 
there  accompanied  by  Mr.  Babcock.  Ferry  had  not 
returned  from  church  (think  of  the  moral  tone  of 
one  who  had  forged  all  the  week).  On  his  return 
I  told  him  there  were  important  parties  at  his  of- 
fice from  New  York  and  that  Donohue  wanted  him 
at  once ;  he  excused  himself  to  the  ladies  and  ac- 
companied me  in  the  carriage.  The  ride  was  long, 
so  we  visited  in  a  friendly  way,  but  finally  he,  too, 
remarked  that  the  driver  was  going  out  of  his  way, 
and  after  protesting  considerably,  I  informed  him 
of  his  true  status.  He  did  not  quite  collapse.  I 
assured  him  his  years  would  earn  him  a  gentleman's 
treatment.     He  was  soon  landed  in  my  office. 

I  had  a  good  dinner  served  all  of  them  from  my 
hotel.  So  that  the  ladies  at  Mr.  Ferry's  house 
would  not  worry,  and  waiting  until  it  would  have 
been  impossible  for  them  to  reach  the  boat,  I  wrote 
them  on  his  own  letter  head  asking  for  clean 
clothes  enough  to  last  about  a  week,  as  he  was 
going  to  City  Point — so  I  wrote — on  the  Bay  Line 
boat,  on  important  business.  The  clean  clothes  I 
gave  Mr.  Ferry. 

I  then  went  back  to  the  office  to  see  how  much 

167 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

business  Mr.  Kraft  had  accomplished.  He  was 
much  warmed  up  over  his  discoveries  in  that  room 
adjoining',  where  the  forgeries  were  done. 

While  there  a  bruscjue,  loud-mouthed  man  came 
in  and  asked  for  Donohue,  announcing  in  a  loud 
way  what  he  had  done  at  Harper's  Ferry.  I  told 
him  he  was  a  fool,  and  that  I  would  not  have  any- 
thing to  do  with  the  business  if  such  as  he  w^ere 
in  it.  The  chiding  acted  like  a  charm.  He  thanked 
me  for  cautioning  him.  He  said  he  would  not 
have  spoken  so  but  he  knew  that  I  was  all  right. 
He  said  he  was  stopping  at  the  Fountain  House, 
but  readily  agreed  to  go  and  get  his  bag  and  go 
with  me  to  my  hotel ;  he  accompanied  me  and 
landed  where  the  others  were.  His  name  was  Ker- 
ley,  and  if  my  memory  is  correct,  he  was  running 
for  sheriff  of  Washington  county. 

After  dark,  having  prepared  a  separate  corridor 
in  the  city  jail,  I  placed  them  there,  taking  the  fol- 
lowing receipt : 

Baltimore,  Oct.  23,   1864. 
Received  of  guards  the  following  prisoners : 
Edw.  Donohue. 
Edw.  Newcomb. 
M.  J.  Ferry. 
Peter  Kerley. 

(Signed)  Thomas  C.  James,  Warden. 

JoTTN   W.   SiNDALL. 

ir.8 


ADJT.  GEN.  ANDREWS  AGAIN 

On  Monday  (24th)  we  had  a  conference  with  Mr. 
Fred.  Seward,  Assistant  Secretary  of  State  (he  was 
accompanied  by  Mr.  Benedict,  of  the  State  Depart- 
ment), to  ascertain  if  some  one  of  the  batch  would 
confess.  I  suggested  Newcomb,  and  went  in  the 
carriage  for  him. 

The  city  jail  was  in  a  gloomy  location.  The  hour 
was  well  along  in  the  evening,  and  Newcomb's 
nerve  was  shaky.  I  took  him  to  the  Eutaw  House, 
before  General  Wallace,  Colonel  Woolley  and  Mr. 
Seward.  At  first  he  (Newcomb)  stoutly  denied 
knowledge  of  the  forgeries;  my  judgment  as  to  his 
probable  weakness  was  in  jeopardy.  I  asked  New- 
comb to  come  out  in  the  hall,  where  I  told  him  that 
he  could  do  just  as  he  saw  fit  about  confessing,  but 
that  I  was  the  convalescent  soldier  who  voted  right 
there  in  the  office  when  Donohue  and  he  were  do- 
ing the  work.  Then  he  begged  to  be  again  taken 
before  General  Wallace,  whereupon  he  confessed 
all. 

In  the  meantime  I  had  choked  up  the  mail  and 
express  companies  for  all  matter  bearing  the  New 
York  State  Agency  label,  and  among  the  mass  we 
got  my  document,  but  it  contained  a  good  straight 
McClellan  ballot,  as  did  Mr.  Babcock's. 

On  Tuesday  (the  25th)  the  Doubleday  Military 
Commission  of  Washington  was  convened  at  Balti- 
more, and  before  the  day  was  over  Newcomb  had 
confessed  and  Ferry  tried  to,  but  he  so  falsified  his 
169 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

statement  that  it  did  not  merit  consideration.  The 
desirabiHty  for  haste  to  make  public  the  fraud  was 
because  the  country  had  been  flooded  with  these 
fraudulent  papers,  which  could  not  be  intercepted, 
except  by  publicity  through  the  channel  of  the  news- 
papers ;  therefore  after  the  27th  of  October  the  mat- 
ter was  made  public. 

Appleton  says  they  were  arrested  on  the  27th, 
but  the  facts,  "between  the  lines,"  are  as  I  have 
told  you.  The  kidnapping  was  a  success.  Four 
public  men  were  taken  away  from  their  business 
and  usual  haunts,  and  hidden  for  four  days  without 
leaving  a  trace. 

I  found  in  Ferry's  office  many  rich  things. 
Among  them  was  a  letter  from  Ferry  to  John  F. 
Seymour,  Hudson,  Columbia  County,  New  York 
(the  Governor's  brother),  accompanying  a  package 
of  these  forged  papers,  and  telling  him  to  use  them 
where  his  judgment  suggested,  or  words  to  that 
efifect. 

I  offered  General  Wallace  to  try  to  incriminate 
Seymour,  if  I  could  have  two  or  three  days'  time ; 
but  the  General  advised  against  it,  having  so  little 
time  even  then  for  publicity  before  election  day. 

The  whole  country  was  roused  to  action.  The 
matter  was  treated  by  the  newspapers  as  of  as 
much  importance  as  the  army  movements.  It  was 
given  first  column,  first  page,  place,  with  flaming, 
startling  headlines.  One  paper  had  it :  "Great 
170 


ADJT.  GEN.  ANDREWS  AGAIN 

Soldier  Vote  Fraud.  Arrest  of  Governor  Sey- 
mour's State  Agents.  The  Most  Stupendous  Fraud 
Ever  Known  in  Politics."  "A  systematic  and  wide- 
spread conspiracy  has  been  brought  to  light,  carried 
on  by  agents  here  (Washington),  at  Baltimore, 
Harper's  Ferry  and  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
IMen  now  in  custody  have  been  actively  engaged 
in  this  business  for  weeks,  as  one  of  the  parties  in- 
volved (Newcomb)  declared.  Forged  ballots  have 
been  forwarded  in  dry  goods  boxes,  etc." 

Such  startling  accounts  were  continued  for  many 
days.  It  was  also  treated  editorially.  It  was  not 
considered  merely  as  a  political  move  to  secure  of- 
fice, but  as  a  move  to  secure  a  false  verdict  on  the 
matter  of  the  continuance  of  the  war.  Appleton's 
Encyclopedia  for  1864  has  several  columns  of  mat- 
ter on  the  election  fraud  case. 

The  following  order  was  issued  by  Major  Gen- 
eral Hooker,  commanding  the  Northern  Depart- 
ment. 

Cincinnati,  Ohio. 
Oct.  2-],  1864. 
*'The  Commander  of  this  Department  has 
received  information  that  it  is  the  intention  of 
a  large  body  of  men  on  the  Northern  frontier, 
on  each  side  of  the  line,  open  on  one  side  and 
in   disguise  on   the   other,   to   so  organize  at 
the  ensuing  National  Election,  as  to  interfere 
with  the  integrity  of  the  election,  and  when 
in  their  power  to  cast  illegal  votes,  &c." 
171 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

A  number  of  Ohio  election  officers  were  arrested 
for  imitating  the  New  York  State  Agents'  rascaH- 
ties. 

Notwithstanding  all  efforts  made  to  publish  the 
facts,  the  conspirators  came  too  near  success.  New 
York  polled  about  730,000  votes ;  Mr.  Lincoln's  ma- 
jority was  only  about  6,700 ;  and  of  the  total  vote  of 
2,401,000  in  the  great  States  of  New  York,  Penn- 
sylvania, Ohio,  Indiana  and  Illinois,  if  less 
than  three  per  cent,  had  been  cast  on  the  other  side, 
Lincoln  would  have  been  defeated  and  the  Union 
destroyed.  A  twig  may  change  the  trajectory  of  a 
cannon  ball ;  a  letter  "1"  misplaced,  may  have  saved 
the  nation. 

Will  any  one  conclude  that  Ferry,  the  State's 
Agent,  and  Donohue  and  Newcomb,  were  not  act- 
ing under  orders  from  their  superior,  Governor 
Seymour  ? 

Just  now  while  I  am  writing  I  have  before  me 
Watson's  Magazine  for  March,  191 1,  speaking  of 
Headley's  account  of  his  part  in  retaliatory  acts  in 
the  west  and  east :  "The  evidence  there  found  of 
the  extent  of  the  copperhead  movement  in  the  upper 
Mississippi  Valley  in  1863- 1864  is  entirely  essential 
to  a  history  of  both  sides  of  the  great  war.  It  be- 
comes startling  to  contemplate  to  what  imminence 
revolution  in  the  States  of  the  north  and  west  had 
approached,  etc." 

"Mr.  Davis  (Jefferson  Davis)  delivered  an  im- 
172 


MOST  SUCCESSFUL  KIDNAPPING 

passioned  speech  at  Palmetto  Station,  near  Atlanta, 
in  Sept.,  1864,  in  which  he  declared  the  opinion 
that  McClellan  would  be  elected  over  Lincoln  at 
the  November  elections,  and  in  that  event  the  west 
Would  set  him  up  as  president  over  itself,  leaving 
the  east  to  Lincoln." 

Thus  it  is  shown  that  the  Confederates  fully  ex- 
pected a  rupture  of  the  North  on  lines  to  be  worked 
out  by  the  "Sons  of  Liberty"  and  their  co-conspira- 
tors. 

After  a  time  President  Lincoln  pardoned  Ferry 
and  later  Donohue.  The  President's  big-hearted- 
ness  led  him  first  to  pardon  Ferry  because  of  his 
advanced  age. 

Newcomb  came  into  my  life  again  in  1882,  in  the 
impeachment  proceedings  against  Judge  Westbrook. 
Somebody  hunted  me  up  and  subpoenaed  me  to  tes- 
tify as  to  the  character  of  Newcomb.  He  had  been 
a  receiver  of  a  life  insurance  company  (if  my  mem- 
ory is  right)  under  an  appointment  by  Judge  West- 
brook,  and  it  was  represented  that  he  had  misap- 
plied large  sums.  The  session  of  the  committee 
was  held  in  the  St.  James  Hotel,  corner  of  Broad- 
way and  Twenty-sixth  Street,  New  York.  When 
I  entered  the  rotunda  I  was  hailed  by  a  Mr.  Fox. 
who  wanted  conversation  with  me.  He  knew  my 
mission  and  told  me  it  would  be  worth  a  thousand 
dollars  if  I  would  "walk  up  the  street  with  him." 
The  proposition  did  not  flatter  me ;  he  did  not  cor- 

^7?> 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

rectly  size  up  my  moral  tone.  I  testified  concerning 
the  circumstances  of  1864,  of  Newcomb's  crime  and 
his  confession.  Newcomb  followed  me  out  of  the 
committee  room,  and  expressed  great  surprise  at 
my  appearance  on  the  scene.  I  was  not  astonished 
to  find  him  in  questionable  business. 

Donohue  I  have  met  several  times  since  the  war. 
For  a  time  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  New  York 
Central  Railroad,  later  holding  a  small  political  ap- 
pointment in  one  of  the  New  York  City  depart- 
ments. 

I  found  another  document  in  the  State  Agent's 
office  that  finished  Adjutant  General  Andrews'  use- 
fulness instanter.  It  was  written  on  headquarters' 
letterhead  and  spoke  disrespectfully  of  Mr.  Lincoln, 
the  Commander-in-Chief.  Andrews  was  uncere- 
moniously dismissed  from  the  service. 


174 


FILE   XXIII. 

John  Deegan,  a  forger,  captured — A  report  that  led  to 
a  historic  raid  by  Colonel  Baker  on  the  bounty 
jumpers   and  bounty  brokers  of  New  York. 

Here  follows  a  rather  interesting  case.  One  Dee- 
gan, an  expert  penman,  who  had  formerly  been  a 
clerk  in  one  of  the  regular  cavalry  regiments,  had 
been  forging  discharges  and  final  statements  of  fic- 
titious soldiers,  employing  an  accomplice  to  present 
them  at  the  various  paymasters'  offices  and  draw  the 
money.  Being  familiar  with  the  officers'  signatures, 
he  was  very  successful  in  forging  their  names.  To 
make  the  final  statement  cover  a  large  amount  of 
money — many  hundreds  and  sometimes  thousands 
of  dollars — the  statements  represented  the  parties 
to  have  been  prisoners  of  war,  one  or  two  years, 
which,  with  all  the  allowances,  would  carry  the 
amounts  up  into  large  figures. 

United  States  Army,  Pay  District 
of  Pennsylvania. 
Baltimore,  Md.,  Nov.  9,  1864 
Colonel : 

I  have  had  a  full  explanatory  conversation 
with  your  Chief  of  Detectives  in  reference  to 

175 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

forgeries  lately  perpetrated  upon  the  Govern- 
ment and  have  given  him  every  clue  in  my 
possession,  to  the  perpetrators. 

The  name  and  recent  address  of  the  party 
who  escaped  from  your  office  has  also  been 
obtained  by  me.  I  have  therefore  to  request 
that  you  give  him  every  facility  he  may  de- 
sire in  visiting  both  Philadelphia  and  New 
York,  and  that  you  will  instruct  the  calling  to 
his  assistance  experienced  detectives. 

I  have  ordered  my  orderly  to  report  to  him 
as  he  is  acquainted  with  this  Deegan.  The 
case  is  one  of  importance  and  no  delay  should 
occur  in  ferreting  it  out. 

Very  respy.  Colonel,  your  obdt.  servant., 
Frank  M.  Etting, 
Chief  Paymaster. 
To 

Lt.  Col.  Woolley, 
Provost  Marshal, 
8th  Army  Corps. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 

Baltimore,  Nov.  9,  1864. 
Special  Order  No.  164. 

Lt.  H.  B.  Smith,  5th  N.  Y.  H.  Arty,  and 
two  men  will  proceed  without  delay  to  the 
cities  of  Philadelphia  and  New  York,  for  the 
purpose  of  arresting  certain  persons  engaged 
in  manufacturing  forged  Discharge  papers. 
Having  accomplished  this  duty,  Lieut.  Smith 
776 


DEEGAN,  A  FORGER,  CAPTURED 

and  his  guard  will  return  and  report  at  this 
office. 

The  Quartermaster's  Department  will  fur- 
nish the  necessary  transportation. 

By  command  of  Major  General  Lew  Wal- 
lace. 

Wm.   H.   Wiegel, 
Capt.  &  Asst.  Provost  Marshal. 

We  had  in  custody  one  of  Deegan's  pals,  John 
P>attell.  To  save  his  scalp,  I  forced  him  to  write  a 
letter  (copy  below),  that  I  might  use  with  Decgan. 

Deegan's  Philadelphia  address  was  a  saloon,  kept 
by  Dick  Gallery,  at  126  Callowhill  Street.  The  let- 
ter reads : 

Havre  de  Grace,  Nov.  8th. 
Wm.  Deegan. 

I  am  under  arrest  on  my  way  to  Baltimore 
under  arrest  I  have  just  time  through  the 
g-oodness  of  a  guard  to  send  you  this  as  we 
delayed  here  one  ^  hour  waiting  for  another 
train  to  pass  it  will  go  hard  with  me  I  sup- 
pose. Yours, 

John  Battell. 

The  above  is  a  literal  copy  of  Battell's  letter,  it 
is  in  his  hand  writing  and  is  addressed  to : 
Wm.  Deegan, 
nth  Ward  Hotel, 
Callowhill  St., 
Private.  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

177 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

We  were  attired  suitably  for  the  occasion,  vel- 
veteen caps,  paper  collars,  colored  shirts,  etc.,  a 
good  "jumper's"  toggery. 

Jumpers,  or  bounty  jumpers,  were  a  very  distinct 
class  of  patriots  (  ?)  in  war  days.  They  were  so  pa- 
triotic they  would  enlist  many,  many  times,  and 
draw  a  large  bounty  each  time.  When  they  enlisted 
they  doffed  their  clothes  and  put  on  the  uniform. 
As  soon  as  they  could  evade  or  "jump"  the  guards 
conducting  them,  they  would  shed  the  uniform  and 
buy  a  cheap  suit,  such  a  one  as  I  have  described, 
and  reappear  at  their  old  haunts,  ready  to  "jump" 
another  bounty,  under  the  skillful  management  of 
a  bounty  broker.  An  observing  person  could  pick 
out  a  "jumper"  on  sight. 

We  put  in  twenty-four  lively  hours  with  the 
"jumpers"  and  thieves  at  Gallery's.  One  may  won- 
der how  a  decent  man  could  associate  with  such 
characters  and  not  betray  himself.  It  is  a  wonder, 
but  somehow  I  managed  to  fit  the  niche  under  any 
circumstances. 

Learning  that  Deegan  had  gone  to  New  York 
and  would  probably  be  at  his  brother  John's  saloon 
in  East  38th  Street,  I  proceeded  there. 

I  used  the  names  "George  Gomings"  or  "I.  K. 
Shaffer"  usually,  and  they  became  familiar  to  me. 
In  this  case  I  was  "George  Comings." 

To  have  something  to  recommend  me  to  John 
Deegan,  I  wired  to  myself  from  Philadelphia  to 
178 


DEEGAN,  A  FORGER,  CAPTURED 

New  York,  using  "R.  Gallery's"  name  (without  per- 
mission), I  have  the  telegram,  which  was  done  by 
the  House  Printing  Telegraph  (in  type  on  long 
strips,  or  tape,  much  like  the  present  ticker  tape). 
It  reads: 

Phil  Nov  Xlth 
Geo  Comings    Wm  Deegan  is  at  John  Dee- 
gans  Thirty  Eighth  Street  Second  and  Third 
Avenues    Please  take  that  note  to  him  (Bat- 
tell's  note.) 

Hund  wenty  six  Callowhill  St 

We  associated  with  the  "jumpers"  who  hung  out 
at  John  Deegan's  to  accomplish  our  purposes.  Wm. 
Deegan  had  gone  to  Boston. 

Bounty  jumpers  in  New  York  were  on  every 
corner.  The  city  was  infested  with  them.  Our 
appearance  and  conduct  secured  us  recognition  by 
them,  so  much  so  that  my  men  became  anxious  on 
account  of  our  popularity. 

I  made  arrangements  with  Major  Leslie,  the 
Chief  Paymaster  in  New  York,  for  the  capture  of 
Deegan,  which  was  accomplished  shortly  after- 
wards. When  I  called  on  Major  Leslie  at  his  resi- 
dence in  9th  Street,  I  was  somewhat  shocked  at  first 
at  his  incivility.  I  had  overlooked  the  fact  that  my 
personal  appearance  (my  clothes,  etc.)  did  not 
merit  confidence.  However,  as  soon  as  I  made  him 
know  me  everything  went  on  all  right.  I  must 
certainly  have  looked  tough. 
179 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 

Baltimore,  Nov.  15,  1864. 

Lt.  Col.  Woolley, 

Provost  Marshal. 

Colonel. — I  have  the  honor  to  siihmit  the 
following  report  of  my  trip  to  Philadelphia 
and  New  York,  in  search  of  William  Deegan 
and  others  charged  with  forgeries. 

Among  other  steps  that  Major  Elting  took, 
previous  to  giving  the  matter  into  my  hands, 
was  to  telegraph  the  Provost  Marshal  at 
Philadelphia  to  visit  certain  places  and  arrest, 
if  found,  William  Deegan. 

I  arrived  in  Philadelphia  on  Thursday 
morning  and  immediately  called  on  the  Pro- 
vost Marshal  to  ascertain  what  steps  he  had 
taken,  and  I  requested  him  to  withdraw  his 
men  from  the  job. 

I  ascertained  to  a  certainty  that  Deegan  had 
gone  to  New  York,  and  also  that  the  officers 
from  the  Provost  Marshal's  office  went  there 
(to  the  haunt  of  Deegan),  dressed  in  uni- 
form, stating  they  were  connected  with  the 
Quartermasters'  Office,  and  wanted  to  see 
Deegan.  This  was  sufficient  to  scare  any 
guilty  man  out  of  the  country ;  accordingly  I 
left  for  New  York,  where  I  visited  Deegan's 
haunts.  On  Friday  evening  there,  I  ascer- 
tained that  Deegan  and  his  pigeons  were  gone, 
either  to  New  Jersey  or  Boston. 
180 


BOUNTY  JUMPERS 

On  Saturday  I  visited  Major  Leslie,  Chief 
Paymaster  at  New  York,  and  posted  him  as  to 
the  actions  of  Deegan  and  his  associates,  and 
recommended  that  if  discharges  purporting  to 
come  from  the  6th  United  States  Cavalry 
were  presented  it  would  be  well  to  detain  the 
parties  presenting  such  discharges  and  final 
statements  until  he  could  ascertain  if  they 
were  genuine ;  and  would  then  probably  be 
able  to  catch  some  of  the  pigeons,  and  per- 
haps Deegan.  I  also  requested  him  to  tele- 
graph to  Chief  Paymaster  at  Boston,  which 
he  promised  to  do. 

Deegan's  forgeries  seem  to  be  confined  to 
the  6th  U.  S.  Cavalry;  he  was  formerly  a 
member  of  that  Regiment.  He  operates  with 
"jumpers." 

I  think  this  job  was  spoiled  by  the  actions 
of  the  Officers  in  Philadelphia.  I  am  quite 
positive  we  were  not  suspected,  as  we  were  at 
all  times  current  with  these  "jumpers,"  that 
infested  Deegan's  haunts. 

I  visited  these  places  until  yesterday,  when 
I  became  satisfied  that  Deegan  is  too  badly 
scared  to  remain  about. 

In  addition  to  my  report  I  wish  to  give  you 
a  brief  outline  of  the  state  of  affairs  in  the 
Provost  Department  in  New  York  and  Phila- 
delphia. Wherever  I  went  in  search  of  my 
man   I  met  "Bounty  Jumpers,"  who  openly 

i8i 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

avowed  themselves  such,  and  seemed  to  defy 
the  authorities.  Dick  Gallery,  who  keeps  a 
groggery  at  No.  126  Callowhill  street,  Phila- 
delphia, stated  he  was  aware  of  Deegan's 
transactions.  Most  of  Gallery's  customers 
were  "jumpers." 

In  New  York  we  could  go  but  a  short 
distance  without  meeting  these  characters. 
From  what  I  could  see  I  should  think  one 
thousand  a  low  estimate  of  their  numbers ; 
they  are  very  bold.  They  pay  this  Department 
quite  a  compliment,  i.  e.,  they  say  if  they  can 
only  get  clear  from  Baltimore  they  are  all 
right. 

If  about  fifteen  or  twenty  pigeons  could  be 
thrown  into  New  York  and  Philadelphia  to 
co-operate  with  a  strong  force  of  Detectives 
and  MiHtary,  hundreds  of  these  "jumpers" 
would  be  brought  to  justice. 

These  jumpers  without  an  exception  are  the 
firm  support  and  backbone  of  the  Gopperhead 
Clique,  and  the  same  parties  that  caused  the 
riots  in  New  York  last  year.  The  arrest  and 
punishment  of  these  parties  would  cause  re- 
joicing among  respectable  people.  From  my 
observation  I  can  see  that  this  class  of  men 
before  the  war  were  pickpockets,  burglars, 
&c.,  but  now  resort  to  this  last  and  easier 
means  of  stealing,  i.  e.,  "bounty  jumping,"  at 
the  same  time  they  please  the  "Gopperheads" 
by  filling  successively,  the  quotas  of  different 
182 


BOUNTY  JUMPERS 

districts,   and   not   furnishing-  the   Army  one 
soldier;  thus  defeating  the  object  of  the  Draft. 
I  am,  Colonel, 

Very  respy.  your  obdt.  servt., 
H.  B.  Smith, 
Lt.  &  Chief. 

My  report  and  recommendations  were  so  highly 
esteemed  by  General  Wallace  that  he  had  a  copy 
sent  to  General  N.  L.  Jeffries,  the  Provost  Marshal 
General  of  the  United  States,  and  by  him  were  my 
suggestions  acted  upon.  Colonel  Lafayette  C.  Baker 
was  sent  to  New  York  with  a  force  of  men  and  very 
ample  money ;  a  very  vigorous  and  extended  raid 
was  made,  partially  successful ;  but  I  think  my  plan 
of  putting  fifteen  or  twenty  men  in  with  the  jump- 
ers, to  actually  "jump"  with  them,  thus  obtaining 
evidence  to  convict,  would  have  been  more  success- 
ful. The  current  newspapers  treated  this  matter 
as  of  great  importance,  using  the  findings  of  my 
report,  saying :  "Our  quotas  are  being  fraudulently 
filled,  and  furnishing  no  men  for  the  army,  etc." 


183 


FILE   XXIV. 

General  Wallace's  letter  to  secretary  of  war,  Charles 
A.  Dana  (afterwards  editor  of  the  New  York 
"Sun")  asking  for  an  extension  of  territory  for 
my  work,  incidentally  introducing  Colonel  John 
S.  Mosby,  giving  a  list  of  his  men  and  their  home 
addresses — A  train  robbery,  paymasters  robbed — 
I  recapture  part  of  the  money — Commissions  in 
promotion  declined. 

Coleman's  Eutaw  House, 
Baltimore,  Nov.  19,  1864. 

(Unofficial.) 
Hon.  C.  A.  Dana, 

Asst.  Sec.  of  War. 

Dear  Sir.— Lt.  Smith,  my  Chief  of  Detec- 
tives, will  hand  you  this  note. 

It  is  necessary  to  one  of  his  schemes,  based 
upon  a  late  discovery,  that  he  should  have 
a  pass  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  to  go 
through  the  lines  of  the  blockade  on  the  Poto- 
mac. The  pass  should  cover  a  vessel,  a  crew 
of  six  or  seven  men  and  two  or  three  hundred 
dollars'  worth  of  goods. 
184 


GEN.  WALLACE'S  LETTER  TO  DANA 

I  have  every  confidence  that  Lt.  Smith  w^ill 
uncover  a  good  thing. 

About  his  honesty  there  is  no  doubt. 
Very  truly, 

Your  friend,     Lew  Wallace, 
Major  General  Commanding. 

The  above  letter  is  in  General  Wallace's  own 
handwriting.  I  prize  it  more  than  any  commission 
or  brevet  commission  that  I  have. 

I  needed  just  such  an  extended  privilege  as  Gen- 
eral Wallace  asked  for,  and  in  March  following  I 
obtained  it. 

Colonel  John  S.  Mosby's  Guerillas  were  the  most 
annoying  and  expensive  antagonists  we  had.  He 
operated  along  the  line  of  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio 
Railroad  west  of  Washington,  and  also  with  a  de- 
tachment between  the  Potomac  and  Rappahannock. 
My  probings  extended  into  the  territory  covered 
by  him.  I  made  a  study  of  his  tactics  and  was 
preparing  to  counteract  him.  His  men  were  at 
home  in  the  district;  it  was,  in  fact,  their  home. 
They  were,  or  many  of  them  were,  farmers,  who 
might  be  innocently  tilling  the  soil  as  our  scouting 
parties  passed,  but  who,  at  Colonel  Mosby's  whistle, 
if  the  chance  was  propitious,  would  jump  on  horse 
and  surprise  us  before  long.  Small  bodies  of  troops 
were  taken  unawares.  They  never  offered  a  front 
to  large  bodies;  they  would  swoop  down  on  a  de- 
fenceless train,  or  destroy  railroad  bridges. 

185 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

Mosby  was  a  valuable  asset  to  the  Confederacy, 
worth  many  times  Harry  Gilmor's  Raiders. 

I  think,  without  doubt,  it  took  twenty  or  thirty 
thousand  of  our  men  to  guard  against  his  intermit- 
tent incursions. 

Mosby  was  an  educated  man.  An  impression 
was  abroad  then  that  he  was  a  barbarian ;  he  was 
not.  He  was  loyally  doing  for  the  South  what  I 
would  have  done  for  the  North.  I  captured  his 
foraging  order,  on  one  occasion  and  it  opened  my 
eyes,  for  it  was  evidence  of  as  civilized  methods  of 
war  as  was  ever  manifested.  In  this  order  he  pro- 
vided for  payment  for  private  property  which  he 
took. 

I  planned  to  organize  a  body  of  men  to  compete 
with  Mosby,  and  I  asked  for  a  command  to  operate 
independently  of  district  lines,  or  military  com- 
manders. 

I  had  been  locating  Mosby's  men  (their  homes), 
from  all  sorts  of  sources  of  information,  prepar- 
ing to  capture  them  in  detail.  I  was  planning  to 
take  them  at  their  disadvantage,  when  they  were  at 
the  plough,  and  not  when  they  were  in  the  saddle. 
Here  is  part  of  my  list  so  tabulated : 

"Members  of  Mosby." 

Wm.  Robinson, 
Wend  Robinson, 

John   Robinson — Three    miles    above    Front 
1 86 


COL.  JOHN  S.  MOSBY'S  MEN 

Royal,  on  the  Culpepper  Pike.     Father 

is  a  farmer. 
Geo.  Reger — Black  Rock  below  the  Pike,  with 

his  brother,  John  Reger. 
Jack  Downing — 5^  mile  from  Geo.  Reger's  on 

Black  Rock,  in  a  fine  brick  house. 
William  Wright — Four    miles    below    Front 

Royal,   on   the   Linden    Road,    with    his 

Grandmother,  Luanda  Wright. 
James  Fold— Below  Flint  Hill,  six  or  seven 

miles  from  Front  Royal  near  the  Pike. 

Father  is  a  farmer. 
James  Hawes— On     Culpepper     Pike,     seven 

miles    from   Front   Royal,   is   a   laborer, 

lives  in  Mr.  Gibson's  house. 
Bresley     Esom — Seven     miles     from     Front 

Royal,  one  mile  from  Culpepper  Pike. 
George  Esom — Same  place  as  Bresley. 
John  Clark — Nine  miles  from  Front  Royal,  to 

right  of  Culpepper  Pike,  on  the  mountain. 

Father  is  a  farmer. 
John  Maddox — Four  miles  from  Front  Royal 

on  Hominy  Road,  is  a  farmer. 
George     Leech — Three     miles     from     Front 

Royal,   on   the    Culpepper   Pike.      Shoe- 
maker shop. 
James  Bolton — Eight  or  nine  miles  from  Front 

Royal,  on  Culpepper  Pike,  left  hand  side. 

Father  is   a   blacksmith. 
James  Anderson — Resides  with  Bolton. 
William  Black  well — Formerly,  on  Baltimore  & 

Ohio  Railroad. 

187 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

You  will  see  later  on  in  Paine's  statement  that  I 
quizzed  him  on  the  same  subject.  I  presume  my  in- 
formation was  not  always  reliable,  but  was  nearly 
so. 

The  following  is  quoted  from  an  interrupted  Con- 
federate letter,  in  speaking  of  Mosby : 

"He  is  well  off  for  Greenbacks  since  he 
captured  those  paymasters  on  the  Baltimore 
&  Ohio  Railroad  line.  When  the  plunder  se- 
cured on  that  occasion  came  to  be  divided  up 
every  officer  and  man  who  assisted  got 
$1,922.50.  A  good  deal  of  this  money  you 
have  already  got  back.  I  will  tell  you  how. 
Old  men  and  women  residents  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Upperville,  who  have  gone  within 
your  lines  and  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance, 
have  been  sent  by  Mosby  and  many  of  his 
men .  to  Berlin,  to  purchase  goods :  such  as 
hats,  &c.,  and  have  paid  for  these  in  captured 
Greenbacks,  and  got  the  goods  out  to  the 
Battalion." 

This  information  was  correct.  I  captured  one 
man's  part  of  the  plunder  entire,  or  nearly  so.  The 
money  was  yet  in  its  original  shape,  as  issued  to 
these  paymasters  from  the  Treasury  Department. 
I  took  it  there  and  they  were  able  to  identify  the 
packages. 

The  capture  was  made  in  this  way :  One  of 
Mosby 's  men  named  Dr.  John  A.  Kline,  of  Lou- 
188 


A  TRAIN  ROBBERY 

doun  County,  Virginia,  came  to  Baltimore.  He  was 
accompanied  by  his  mother,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  KHne, 
and  a  niece,  Nannie  O.  Bannon.  He  became  in- 
toxicated, talked  too  much,  and  the  whole  party 
was  arrested.  They  were  searched,  the  women  by 
one  of  my  female  officers,  and  the  money,  about 
two  thousand  dollars,  was  found  on  the  mother, 
in  a  belt  worn  next  to  her  skin.  We  confined  the 
women  in  a  hotel,  but  were  finally  forced  to  send 
them  to  jail,  as  the  mother  got  intoxicated,  and  so 
disturbed  the  other  guests. 

Kline  was  sentenced  to  ten  years  hard  labor.  The 
mother  was  confined  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

Appleton,  for  1864,  speaks  of  the  train  robbery, 
on  page  156,  as  follows: 

"All  that  district  of  country  west  of  Wash- 
ington and  immediately  south  of  the  Potomac 
River,  was  infested  with  guerrillas  through- 
out the  year.  Colonel  Mosby  was  their  leader. 
Many  of  their  expeditions  were  conducted 
with  great  boldness.  Sometimes  they  came 
within  a  few  miles  of  Washington. 

"On  one  occasion  during  the  year  they  cap- 
tured a  passenger  train  on  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  Railroad,  between  Harper's  Ferry  and 
Martinsburg.  A  rail  was  removed,  and  the 
train  thus  running  off  the  track  was  brought 
to  a  stop.  Their  proceedings  have  been  thus 
graphically  described,"  etc. 
189 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

"They  then  made  a  final  search,  and  saw 
the  work  was  complete ;  the  train  had  been 
burned,  a  paymaster  with  sixty-three  thousand 
dollars  robbed,  the  passengers  plundered  of 
their  hats,  coats,  boots,  watches  and  money, 
and  locking"  and  burning  the  mail,  express, 
and  baggage,  they  made  us  a  boisterous  fare- 
well." 

The  matter  of  my  suggestion  for  a  party  to  com- 
pete with  Mosby,  went  through  all  the  channels, 
up  to  Major  General  Halleck,  the  President's  mili- 
tary adviser.  I  was  informed  that  General  Halleck 
approved  of  it,  to  give  me  a  commission  as  Captain 
and  Assistant  Adjutant  General,  to  report  to  the 
Adjutant  General.  This  was  suggested  to  over- 
come rank  restrictions.  The  matter,  however,  was 
delayed  (I  will  refer  to  it  again  in  March,  1865). 
The  war  ended  without  this  scheme  being  accom- 
plished. Meantime  I  declined  to  accept  several  ten- 
ders of  commissions  in  promotion,  expecting  to 
realize  this  greater  recognition. 

The  following  tenders  of  promotion  were  de- 
clined : 

Headauarters  8th  N.  Y,  Arty, 

before  Petersburg,  Va., 

Nov.  22,  1864. 
Friend  Smith. 

How  are  you  old  boy  and  how  have  you  en- 
190 


PAYMASTERS  ROBBED 

joyed  yourself  since  I  last  saw  you?  I  am 
well,  and  full  of  fight  as  ever.  We  have  done 
some  fighting  since  we  came  into  the  field, 
and  would  like  to  have  you  with  us. 

There  is  a  Captain's  commission  waiting 
for  you  if  you  will  accept  it.  If  you  will  send 
answer  to  me  immediately,  I  will  get  it  for 
you. 

The  officers  of  the  Regiment  would  like  to 
have  you  come.  The  Regiment  is  commanded 
by  Major  Baker,  our  Colonel  (Willett)  Com- 
mands the  1st  Brigade,  2nd  Div.  2nd  Corps. 

We  have  some  good  times  and  some  d d 

hard  times,  but  I  think  it  will  pay. 
I  hope  you  will  join  us  as  Captain. 
Good  Bye, 

J.  W.  Holmes, 
Major  8th  N.  Y.  H.  Arty. 
2nd  Brig.  2nd  Div.  2nd  Corps. 


Harper's  Ferry,  Va. 

Dec.   15,   1864. 

Dear  Captain: 

I  suppose  I  have  the  right  to  address  you 
by  the  above  title  now.  Your  Commission  as 
Captain  came  yesterday  and  you  will  receive 
it  by  same  mail  as  you  do  this. 

Your  Friend, 

J.  H.  Graham. 
191 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 

Baltimore,  Nov.  20,  1864. 
Special  Order  No.  171. 

Lieut.  H.  B.  Smith,  5th  N.  Y.  Arty.  Comdg. 
Detective  Corps  8th  Army  Corps,  and  one 
man  as  guard  will  at  once  proceed  to  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  in  charge  of  prisoner  J.  J. 
Chancellor,  on  arrival  at  that  point  he  will  re- 
port with  Chancellor,  without  delay,  to  Hon. 
C.  A.  Dana,  Asst.  Secretary  of  War.  Having 
completed  his  duties  at  that  place  he  will  at 
once  return  with  the  guard  to  these  head- 
quarters. 

Quartermasters  will  furnish  necessary  trans- 
portation. 

By  command  of  Major  General  Wallace. 
Wm.  H.  Wiegel, 
Capt.  &  Asst.  Provost  Marshal. 


192 


FILE   XXV. 

Capture  of  Confederate  bonds  and  scrip — Arrest  of 
Pittman,  Brewer  and  Fowler ;  Lieut.  Smith,  alias 
I.  K.  Shaffer,  alias  George  Comings,  led  them, 
victims,  into  a  maze,  to  their  undoing. 

I  will  now  tell  you  of  the  Confederate  bond  mat- 
ter. Special  Order  No.  172  enabled  me  to  make  my 
arrangements  at  Willard's  Hotel : 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  x\rmy  Corps. 

Baltimore,  Nov.  20,  1864. 
Special  Order  No.  172. 

Lieut.  H.  B.  Smith,  5th  N.  Y.,  and  one 
man  will  proceed  to  Washington,  D.  C,  on 
secret  service.  On  completion  of  his  duties 
he  will  report  with  his  guard  at  these  head- 
quarters. 

By  command  of  Major  General  Wallace. 
John  Woolley. 
Lt.  Col.  &  Pro.  Marshal. 

Office  Provost  Marshal, 
Baltimore,  Nov.  24,  1864. 
Lt.  Col.  Woolley. 

Provost  Marshal. 
Colonel. — I  have  the   honor  to  report  the 

193 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

arrest  of  J.  S.  Pittman,  Dr.  D.  R.  Brewer  and 
T.  S.  Fowler. 

I  herewith  hand  you  a  carpet  sack,  con- 
taining Confederate  Bonds  and  Scrip  amount- 
ing to  $82,575,  which  was  collected  in  different 
ways  from  these  parties.  Also  $22  from  Dr. 
Brewer  and  $280  from  Pittman,  in  currency, 
and  a  trunk  said  to  contain  23  dozen  cards 
(cotton  and  woolen  cards)  from  Brewer's 
house. 

Herewith  I  hand  you  several  statements  in 
reference  to  the  case. 

I  would  respectfully  call  your  attention  to 
Mr.  Fowler's  statement,  viz. :  that  "that  they 
sell  this  stuff  to  Jews,  &:c.,  that  run  the  hlock- 
ade,"  and  that  "it  is  all  done  for  the  benefit 
of  the  U.  S.  Service,"  and  then  to  Pittman's 
statement  that  he  did  not  know  the  New  York 
man  who  was  to  buy  of  him  in  Washington, 
and  then  to  my  statement,  i.  e.,  that  I  told  him 
that  I  was  from  New  York,  and  gave  him 
my  name  and  address  in  writing,  and  also  told 
him  how  I  intended  to  use  the  funds  with 
blockade  runners.  Putting  all  these  state- 
ments together  I  should  conclude  that  if  he  is 
doing  all  this  "for  the  benefit  of  the  service," 
that  he  would  have  informed  the  authorities 
of  my  intentions. 

Pittman's  and  Brewer's  statements  were 
made  under  oath.  Brewer  stated  to  me  that 
the  cards  were  bought  to  send  to  Dixie.     In 

194 


CONFEDERATE  BONDS  AND  SCRIP 

his  sworn  statement,  after  arrest,  he  decHned 
giving-  the  history  of  them,  as  it  might  injure 
his  friends. 

I  am,  Colonel, 

Very  respy.  your  ohdt.  servt., 
H.  B.  Smith, 
Lt.  &  Chief. 

This  story  is  quite  complicated.  During  the  prog- 
ress of  this  case,  I  was  known  to  the  parties  as 
"Comings,"  "Shaffer"  and  Lieutenant  Smith,  and 
to  show  how  complex  it  was,  although  Pittman 
and  Brewer  were  together  in  prison,  until  trial  came 
they  had  not  been  able  to  understand  that  the  three 
names  were  for  one  person. 

When  I  was  about  to  go  on  the  stand  in  their 
trial,  their  counsel  asked  me  if  Comings  and  Shaf- 
fer would  be  present  ?  I  answered  yes ;  but  when 
on  the  stand  I  began  and  told  the  story,  their  coun- 
sel claimed  the  Government  had  taken  an  advantage 
of  them  in  concealing  the  facts. 

Captain  Hassing  was  my  medium  for  getting  into 
the  case.  It  was  a  Baltimore  gang,  but  either  from 
suspicion  of  Hassing,  or  for  other  reasons,  they 
would  not  meet  the  New  York  party  (me)  in  Balti- 
more, so  I  arranged  for  a  meeting  in  Washington, 
at  Willard's  Hotel.  I  went  over  and  engaged  a 
room  there  and  registered ;  the  following  wire 
came : 

195 


BETWEEN   THE   LINES 

Baltimore,  Md., 
Nov.  20,  1864. 
I.  K.  Shaffer, 

Willards,   Washington. 
Have    seen    the    parties    arrangements    are 
made  for  tomorrow  be  here  tonight. 

Capt.  Hassing. 
In  reply,  I  weired : 

Washington,  D.  C, 

Nov.  20,  1864. 
Capt.  Hassing, 

German  St.  Green  House,  Baltimore. 
Telegram   reed   will    meet    you    tomorrow 
evening  at   place    appointed   cannot   close   up 
my  business  with  my  friend  here  until  morn- 
ing. 

I.  K.  Shaffer, 
Willards  Hotel. 

The  above  telegram  and  the  one  following  were 
for  Hassing  to  exhibit  to  the  gang,  to  show  my 
earnestness : 

Willards  Hotel 
Washington,  Nov  21  1864 
I.  K.  Shaffer 

Telegraph  Office 

Barnum's  Baltimore 
Disposed  of  documents  as  you  desired  will 
see  you  in  New  York  on  26     Your  telegram 
reed. 

G.  B.  Lyman. 

196 


ARREST  OF  PITTMAN  AND  OTHERS 

I  "fixed  up"  and  went  over  to  Washington  on 
the  same  train  with  Pittman.  I  entered  a  forward 
car  and  Hassing  saw  to  it  that  Pittman  took  one 
in  the  rear.  At  Washington  I  took  a  cab  and  landed 
in  Willard's  Hotel  ahead  of  Pittman.  Willard's,  as 
you  know,  is  in  the  shadow  of  the  Treasury  Depart- 
ment. 

I  was  a  sight  to  look  upon ;  I  wore  a  beaver,  had 
my  hair  curled,  had  a  birth  mark  on  one  cheek,  and 
carried  a  cane ;  I  was  a  New  York  swell  in  appear- 
ance surely.  It  almost  made  me  sick  to  look  in  the 
mirror. 

We  introduced  ourselves,  each  to  the  other,  and 
then  we  went  to  my  room.  Pittman  was  very  cau- 
tious ;  he  said  every  other  person  in  Washington 
was  a  detective.  I  assured  him  of  my  sympathy  and 
told  him  that  in  New  York  we  did  not  suffer  from 
such  surveillance.  He  said  he  was  happy  to  become 
acquainted.  He  said  he  was  so  timid  that  he  did 
not  dare  bring  his  bonds  and  scrip  along,  untd  after 
meeting  me,  when  his  confidence  came  to  him,  and 
said  he  would  go  over  to  Alexandria  and  return  in 
the  morning  ready  to  do  business. 

We  went  down  stairs;  my  two  officers  (Babcock 
and  Horner),  who  were  following  me  to  make  the 
arrest  when  I  indicated  the  propitious  moment, 
were  there.  Pittman  passed  out  the  side  entrance, 
and  then  Babcock  and  Horner  invited  him  into  their 
carriage.  He  protested,  of  course,  but  to  no  use ; 
197 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

in  the  carriage  they  searched  him  and  then  hurried 
him  on  to  Baltimore.  They  could  not  get  out  of 
him  who  had  been  with  him  up  stairs  in  the  hotel. 
I  then  went  into  the  barber  shop,  had  my  curls 
straightened,  washed  the  birth  mark  off,  and  went 
to  bed.  In  the  morning  I  wired  myself,  using  Pitt- 
man's  name.  The  telegram  I  used  as  an  introduc- 
tion to  Dr.  Brewer,  as  follows : 

Washington,  D.  C, 

Nov  22  1864 
Geo.  Comings 

Washington  Hotel 
Baltimore 
Go  to  see  Dr.  Brewer  yourself.    I  will  come 
on  as  soon  as  I  see  my  mother  in  Alexandria. 
Telegraph  me  the  result  of  your  visit. 

J.  T.   PiTTMAN. 

Dr.  Brewer  resided  at  the  corner  of  Sharp  and 
Conway  Streets,  not  far  from  our  office.  I  rang 
his  bell  and  he  responded.  I  unceremoniously 
rubbed  my  telegram  under  his  nose  as  an  introduc- 
tion, giving  him  no  chance  to  survey  me.  After 
considerable  talk,  explaining  the  necessity  for  my 
early  return  to  New  York,  he  said  he  would  go  and 
get  the  bonds  and  scrip.  Having  previously  en- 
gaged a  room  at  the  Maltby  House,  I  offered  to 
walk  with  him,  hoping  thus  to  learn  where  the 
bonds  were  deposited,  but  that  did  not  work.  He 
198 


THREE  IN  ONE  CAUSED  MAZE 

later  met  me  at  the  Maltby  House,  and  we  went 
up  stairs  to  count  over  and  settle ;  the  two  officers 
following  to  make  the  arrest  when  signalled,  re- 
mained in  the  rotunda. 

It  took  until  dark  came  on  to  finish  our  business. 
We  packed  it  all  into  a  carpet  sack,  I  gave  Brewer 
$1,300  in  currency,  and  then  we  went  down  stairs. 
The  arrangement  had  been  for  my  men  to  arrest 
him  after  he  got  far  enough  away  from  me,  but 
so  much  time  had  elapsed,  I  presume  my  men  had 
become  careless,  at  any  rate  they  were  not  in  sight. 
I  did  not  dare  let  Brewer  get  out  of  my  reach,  so 
I  proposed  to  walk  with  him,  to  get  some  fresh 
air.  When  near  his  home,  and  when  I  had  about 
made  up  my  mind  that  I  would  have  to  make  the 
arrest,  to  recover  my  $1,300,  my  men  appeared;  I 
skipped,  and  they  made  the  arrest.  Brewer  was 
obstinate,  but  finally  assumed  a  more  reasonable  at- 
titude. 

In  their  defence  they  tried  to  lighten  the  case  by 
claiming  the  paper  was  forged,  but  when  the  Gov- 
ernment demanded  to  know  where  they  got  the 
paper,  they  failed  to  inform. 


199 


FILE   XXVI. 

Arrest  of  T.  A.  Menzier  and  expose  of  a  prominent 
railroad  official — Arrest  of  Barton  R.  Zantzinger, 
involving  Milnor  Jones — Arrest  of  John  Henry 
Skinner  Quinn,  alias  J.  Y.  Plater,  alias  Simpson, 
a  spy — Arrest  of  E.  R.  Rich,  a  spy. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 

Baltimore,  Dec.  4,  1864. 
Capt.  W.  H.  Wiegel, 

Asst.  Provost  Marshal. 
Captain. — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that 
by  direction  of  General  Wallace,  I  arrested 
Mr.  T.  A.  Menzier  and  locked  him  up  in  this 
jail,  and  ordered  the  officer  of  the  Navy  that 
was  in  company  with  him,  Surgeon  L.  J. 
Draper,  of  the  Receiving  Ship  "Princeton," 
Philadelphia  Harbor,  to  report  to  you  at  ten 
o'clock  A.  M.  to-day.  These  parties  were  in 
town  yesterday  morning  and  intend  to  return 
to  Philadelphia  this  evening ;  neither  of  them 
had  papers.  Menzier's  sister,  at  whose  house 
I  arrested  them  is  a  rebel. 
200 


PROMINENT  RAILROAD  OFFICIAL 

The  rebs  were  having  a  grand  jubilee  over 
his  visit.     The  Doctor  had  no  arms. 
I  am,  Captain, 

Very  respy.  your  obdt.  servt., 

H.  B.  Smith, 
Lt.  &  Chief. 

I  found  in  this  house  a  number  of  prominent  citi- 
zens, among  whom  was  a  very  high  officer  in  a  big 
railroad  company.  He  begged  me  not  to  report  his 
presence,  with  which  request  I  complied,  in  my 
written  report,  but  did  not,  of  course,  fail  to  report 
verbally  to  General  Wallace.  This  man  was  in  con- 
fidential relations  with  the  departments  at  Wash- 
ington. 

JMenzier  was  a  Rebel  assistant  surgeon.  Both 
were  turned  over  to  Commodore  Dornin,  for  the 
Navy's  disposition. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 

Baltimore,  Dec.  5,  1864. 
Capt.  W.  H.  Wiegel, 

Asst.  Provost  Marshal, 
8th  Army  Corps. 
Captain. — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  I 
confined  Barton  R.  Zantzinger,  from  the  Rebel 
Army. 

Herewith  I  hand  you  his  statement,  which 
places  Mr.  Milnor  Jones  in  a  worse  fix  than 
ever.    Perhaps  this  corroborative  evidence  will 
201 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

be  sufficient  to  convict  Jones  of  blockade  run- 
ning. 

I  think  Zantzing^er  should  be  detained  as  a 
witness,  if  for  nothing  else. 
I  am  Captain, 

Very  respy.  your  obdt.  servt, 

H.  B.  Smith, 
Lt.  &  Chief. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 

Baltimore,  Dec.  6,  1864. 
Capt.  W.  H.  Wiegel, 

Asst.  Provost  Marshal, 
8th  Army  Corps. 
Captain. — I   have  the   honor  to   report  the 
arrest  of  John   Henry   Skinner   Quinn,   alias 
J.  Y.  Plater,  alias  Simpson,  on  charge  of  be- 
ing a  spy. 

I  hand  you  two  sworn  statements  that  he 
made  to  me,  also  his  memorandum  book  in 
which  is  a  partial  description  of  his  first  visit 
to  Baltimore,  also  some  entries,  some  of  which 
he  explains  in  his  statement.  I  also  hand  you 
his  furlough,  which  he  said  he  did  not  have,  in 
his  first  statement. 

On  this  trip  he  registered  at  Miller's  Hotel 
as  "Simpson."  On  23d  April  last,  he 
registered  at  same  hotel  as  John  Y.  Plater. 

You  can  see  by  his  statements  that  he  tries 
to  conceal  the  Rebel  sympathizers  of  this  De- 
202 


ARREST  OF   T.   A.   MENZIER 

partment,  and  some  he  positively  refuses  to 
name,  but  asks  me  to  kill  him,  and  not  ask  him 
any  more  questions. 

He  came  to  this  office  to  report  as  a  Rebel 
deserter,  but  when  he  found  that  I  had  been 
on  his  track,  he  owned  up,  but  refused  to  im- 
plicate his  friends. 
I  am.  Captain, 

Very  respy.  your  obdt.  servt., 

H.  B.  Smith, 
Lt.  &  Chief. 

As  General  Wallace  had  said,  it  was  our  duty 
to  ascertain  by  every  means,  the  status  of  all  per- 
sons ;  our  archives  were  crowded  with  information, 
which  materially  helped  us  to  avoid  the  dilemma 
General  Schenck  described. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 

Baltimore,  Dec.  7,  1864. 
Capt.  W.  H.  Wiegel, 

Asst.  Provost  Marshal, 
8th  Army  Corps. 
Captain. — I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  ar- 
rest of  E.  R.  Rich,  of  the  ist  Md.  Rebel  Cav- 
alry, on  the  charg-e  of  being-  a  spy.     He  came 
to  this  office  to  report  and  take  the  oath  of 
alleg-iance,  but  I  think  he  did  not  come  until 
he  heard  from  his  friend  Quinn,  with  whom 
he  came  to  this  city.    I  hand  you  herewith  his 
203 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

sworn  statement,  memoranda  and  pocket  book, 
which  show  his  character. 

You  will  also  see  an  entry  in  his  memoranda 
where  Skinner  On  inn  (now  in  prison)  started 
for  Baltimore  last  spring',  which  corroborates 
Quinn's  statement.  You  will  also  see  that  he 
registered  under  several  names. 

The  memorandum  book  shows  that  it  was 
his  intention  to  return  for  good  to  Virginia. 
Very  respy.  your  obdt.  servt., 

H.  B.  Smith, 
Lt.  &  Chief. 
Both    Ouinn    and    Rich    were    sentenced    to    be 
hanged,  but  their  sentences  were  finally  commuted 
to  imprisonment  during  the  continuance  of  the  war. 


204 


FILE   XXVIL 

Statement  of  Illinois  Crothers,  giving  valuable  and  re- 
liable information,  implicating  Mr.  William  Mitch- 
ell and  a  Mrs.  Keenan,  of  Winchester,  Virginia — 
Report  on  Daniel  W.  Jones  and  Joseph  Bratton — 
Am  given  unlimited  access  to  prisoners  in  Balti- 
more  city  jail. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 

Baltimore,  Dec,  lo,  1864. 
Lt.  Col.  Woolley, 

Provost  Marshal. 
Colonel. — I    have   the  honor  to   hand   you 
statement  made  by  Illinois  Crothers,  of   ist 
Md.  Rebel  Cavalry,  who  came  to  this  office  to 
report. 

I  questioned  him  closely  and  on  every  point 
of  importance,  he  seemed  very  ignorant.  He 
was  in  this  city  several  days  without  report- 
ing, and  to  all  appearances  is  as  bitter  a  Rebel 
to-day  as  ever. 

I  took  from  him  a  document  marked  "A," 
which  shows  that  it  was  generally  known  to 
the  authorities  in  Virginia,  that  he  was  com- 
ing to  Maryland,  and  unless  they  were  sure 
he  would  return,  he  would  not  have  been 
205 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

granted  the  liberty.  You  can  also  see  that  he 
came  an  unusual  route,  for  a  deserter,  i.  e., 
by  the  way  of  Richmond. 

I  have  reliable  information  that  all  of  the 
Rebel  Spies,  commissioned  as  such,  are  from 
the  Signal  Corps. 

Harry  Brogden,  named  in  the  document, 
was  once  in  our  hands,  tried  as  a  spy.  Here- 
with I  hand  you  Brogden's  history. 

I  think  that  this  document  shows  that  he, 
(Crothers),  came  with  the  consent  of  the 
Rebel  authorities,  and  with  the  intention  to 
return. 

I  am,  Colonel, 

Very  respy.  your  obdt.  servt., 

H.  B.  Smith, 
Lt.  &  Chief. 

P.  S. — ^Mrs.  Keenan,  of  Winchester,  should 
be  arrested. 

This  is  not  the  first  transaction  of  the  kind 
implicating  Mr.  Wm.  Mitchell.       (H.  B.  S.) 

It  required  experience  and  skill  to  cull  out  the 
spies  from  among  real  deserters  and  refugees. 
Spies  would  swallow  the  oath  of  allegiance  as  easy 
as  water.  One  of  the  best  tests  of  probabilities,  was 
to  ascertain  the  route  travelled  in  coming  out  from 
the  Confederacy. 

Harry  Brogden  was  the  Confederate  secret  signal 
officer  on  the  Potomac.  No  real  deserter  or  refu- 
206 


STATEMENT  OF  ILLINOIS  CROTHERS 

gee  came  by  his  way.  I  knew  him,  and  if  my 
operations  had  been  extended  to  the  peninsula  be- 
tween the  Potomac  and  Rappahannock,  as  we  de- 
sired, I  would  have  caught  him ;  personally  he  was 
a  fine  fellow.  He  was  a  prisoner  at  Fort  McHenry 
under  me ;  he  and  I  joked  about  turning  our  "arms 
into  ploughshares"  many  times.  He  was  certainly 
as  loyal  to  his  side  as  I  to  mine. 

The  following  is  a  report  made  from  the  records 
in  my  office,  and  it  serves  to  show  how  thorough  in 
detail  our  data  had  come  to  be : 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 

Baltimore,  Dec.  13,  1864. 
Lt.  Col.  John  Woolley, 
Provost  Marshal, 

8th  Army  Corps. 
Colonel. — I  have  the  honor  to  give  you  a 
history  of  the  previous  arrests  of  Daniel  W. 
Jones,  and  Joseph  Bratton,  of  Somerset  Co., 
Md. 

The  first  arrest  of  Daniel  W.  Jones  was 
made  in  1862,  and  he  was  placed  in  Marshal 
McPhail's  custody,  under  charge  of  attacking 
an  enrolling  officer.  He  was  afterwards  re- 
leased on  giving  bonds  to  the  amount  of 
$2,000  to  keep  the  peace,  and  to  deport  him- 
self in  every  way  becoming  a  loyal  citizen.  A 
copy  of  the  bond  is  on  file  in  this  office. 
He  was  again  arrested  by  General  Lock- 
207 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

wood,  May  7,  1864,  on  charge  of  having  vio- 
lated his  parole  ;  on  this  last  charge  four  sworn 
statements  are  on  file  in  this  office,  one  to  the 
effect  that  he  drew  a  revolver  on  a  Union  man 
because  said  Union  man  declared  his  senti- 
ments. 

Joseph  Bratton  was  arrested  March  31, 
1864,  on  the  charge  of  disloyalty,  and  aiding 
the  Rebels.  A  sworn  statement  now  on  file  in 
this  office  shows  that  Bratton  aided  an  escaped 
prisoner  from  Point  Lookout  to  evade  military 
and  get  back  within  the  Rebel  lines. 

I  am,  Colonel, 

Very  respy.  your  obdt.  servt., 

H.  B.  Smith, 
Lt.  &  Chief. 

The  following  gave  me  unlimited  access  to  our 
prisoners  confined  in  the  city  jail: 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 
Baltimore,  Dec.   19,  1864. 
Col.  Thomas  C.  James, 
Warden,  City  Jaih 
The  bearer,  Lieut.  H.  B.  Smith,  5th  N.  Y. 
H.  Arty.,  who  commands  my  detective  Corps, 
is  permitted  to  see  any  prisoner  in  the  City 
Jail  who  belongs  to  this  office,   and  at  such 
times  as  he  may  deem  necessary  for  the  good 
of  the  service. 

208 


STATEMENT  OF  ILLINOIS  CROTHERS 

He  will  be  permitted  to  have  private  inter- 
views if  he  desires  them. 

By  command  of  Major  General  Wallace, 
John  Woolley, 
Lt.  Col.  &  Pro.  Marshal. 


209 


FILE   XXVIII. 

Statements:  Jeremiah  Artis,  a  real  deserter  from  the 
Confederates — WilHam  J.  Bradley,  an  honest  refu- 
gee— Charles  E.  Langley,  an  official  Confederate 
spy — Langley,  personating  a  correspondent  of  the 
New  York  "Tribune,"  was  a  most  successful  and 
dangerous  spy. 

I  have  told  you  that  it  required  experience  and 
skill  to  determine  who  were  honest  deserters,  sick 
of  the  Confederate  service,  and  seeking^  homes  in 
our  lines,  or  who  were  refugees,  entitled  to  a  refuge, 
or  who  were  spies.  Under  the  head  of  spies  were 
placed  those  who  came  North  to  visit  friends,  or 
gain  a  remount  intending  to  return  to  the  Confed- 
erate lines ;  these  latter  were  not  being  especially 
employed  as  spies,  but  they  were  persons  who 
might  carry  valuable  information.  But  it  was  the 
real  official  spy  that  we  were  after. 

By  a  "remount"  I  mean  those  who  were  granted 
leave  of  absence  by  the  Confederates  for  the  pur- 
pose of  remounting.  These  were  mounted  men 
who  having  lost  their  horses,  were  given  a  "remount 
pass"  which  was  practically  authority  to  come  with- 
in our  lines  and  gain  a  horse  by  any  means  ;  there- 

2IO 


JEREMIAH  ARTIS,  A  DESERTER 

fore  without  desire  to  weary  you  I  will  give  you 
the  examinations  of  one  of  each  class,  to  wit :  Jere- 
miah Artis,  a  real  deserter;  Wm.  J.  Bradley,  a 
refugee;  Charles  E.  Langley,  one  of  the  most  ex- 
pert and  successful  official  spies,  who  is  the  one 
I  referred  to  in  the  Emmerich  case  as  the  "pal" 
of  the  conductor  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  rail- 
road. 

In  reading  these  statements,  you  will  notice 
jumps,  or  gaps,  where  these  occur;  it  indicates  a 
question  from  me  eliciting  the  statement  following : 

Statement  of  Jeremiah  Artis  (real  deserter). 
"I  kept  store  in  Smithville,  St.  Mary's 
County,  seven  or  eight  miles  from  Point  Look- 
out, about  one  and  a  half  miles  from  the  Bay. 
I  joined  the  ist  Va.  Cav.,  then  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  1st  Md.  Cav.,  was  then  trans- 
ferred to  the  2nd  Md.  Infty.,  Com'd  by  Capt. 
Crane.  Lt.  Col.  Herbert  is  the  field  officer.  I 
left  Md.  Sep.  1861,  crossed  the  Potomac  at 
night.  I  first  heard  of  the  President's  procla- 
mation, saw  it  in  a  Baltimore  paper  sometime 
early  in  the  spring  of  1864,  the  paper  was  an 
old  one.  I  was  in  Maryland  at  the  battle  of 
Antietam  or  Sharpsburg,  was  also  at  Gettys- 
burg, was  transferred  from  Cavalry  to  Infan- 
try but  wouldn't  stay,  rejoined  the  Cavalry, 
was  with  Bradley  T.  Johnson  at  Chambers- 
burg;  had  no  hand  in  burning  it,  was  kept 
211 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

outside  of  the  city.  I  had  been  arrested  while 
trying  to  cross  the  Potomac  in  July,  was  kept 
in  Richmond  awhile,  then  sent  to  my  Regi- 
ment. Got  as  far  as  Winchester  when  Early 
came  into  Maryland.  When  I  was  arrested, 
I  was  trying  to  get  home  to  stay ;  was  on  the 
Virginia  side  at  the  time  I  was  arrested  by 
the  conscription  officers.  When  I  was  in 
Maryland  I  would  have  deserted  but  had  no 
chance. 

I  left  my  Regiment  this  last  time  about 
Sept.  22  or  23d,  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley, 
near  Port  Republic,  crossed  Brown's  Gap, 
then  through  Green  County,  Madison,  Orange, 
Spottsylvania,  Stafford,  King  George.  West- 
morland Counties,  to  Northumberland  County 
to  the  Potomac  River,  crossed  over  to  Brit- 
tan's  Bay.  I  had  no  furlough  or  pass.  The 
Confederate  Army  was  moving  at  the  time 
and  I  had  no  trouble  in  going  through  the 
country. 

If  I  had  been  arrested  I  would  have  said  I 
belonged  to  no  regiment,  as  my  time  was  out. 
I  walked  from  Brittan's  Bay  direct  to  the 
Patuxent  River  to  Spencer's  Wharf,  and  took 
steamboat  to  Baltimore,  arrived  there  at  1 1  at 
night  and  slept  at  a  hotel ;  next  morning  I  re- 
ported to  the  Provost  Marshal's  office.  I  had 
no  uniform  except  a  jacket  that  I  threw  away 
in  Virginia,  near  the  river.  I  bought  a  coat 
from  some  young  men  I  saw  there. 
212 


JEREMIAH  ARTIS,  A  DESERTER 

D.  Hammell  came  with  me  all  the  time.  I 
expected  when  I  reported  to  be  allowed  to  take 
the  oath  of  allegiance  and  to  be  allowed  to  re- 
main at  home.  I  prefer  soldiering  to  any- 
thing else  in  the  world,  and  if  I  was  as  strong 
a  Southern  man  as  I  was  when  I  first  went 
away,  I  would  stay  in  the  Rebel  army,  no  mat- 
ter how  much  hardship  I  would  have  to  en- 
dure.    I  think  I  could  be  a  truly  loyal  citizen. 

When  I  landed  at  Brittan's  Bay  I  did  not  go 
home  because  I  wished  to  come  to  Baltimore 
and  report.  I  knew  there  was  a  Provost  Mar- 
shal to  report  to  in  Baltimore.  Have  seen  no 
new  recruits  from  Maryland  in  our  regiment 
lately.  We  got  a  few  recruits  while  in  Mary- 
land this  last  time.  I  did  not  know  any  of 
them,  or  where  they  were  from  ;  there  were 
very  few.  I  don't  think  our  Company  got  any 
of  them.  Captain  Brown  was  formerly  our 
Captain ;  he  was  killed. 

Statement  of  William  J.  Bradley  (a  refugee), 
a  Californian : 

(Dec.  31,  1864.)  I  left  Richmond,  Vir- 
ginia, on  Dec.  nth.  I  was  given  the  follow- 
ing directions  and  a  pass  by  order  of  the  Rebel 
Secretary  of  War,  to  come  North :  the  direc- 
tions were  given  by  the  Chief  Signal  Ofificer, 
viz :  get  off  the  cars  at  Milford.  see  Boles  at 
Bowling  Green,  Gibbs  at  Port  Royal,  Rollins 
213 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

at  Port  Conway.  I  went  to  Oak  Grove  one 
and  a  half  miles  from  the  Signal  Camp.  The 
Signal  Camp  is  on  Bridge  Creek,  five  miles 
from  its  mouth.  At  a  point  on  the  creek 
where  there  was  an  old  bridge  which  was 
burned,  is  where  you  strike  the  road  that  leads 
to  camp,  which  camp  is  about  three  hundred 
yards  from  the  creek,  and  on  the  site  of  the 
birth  place  of  Washington.  They  have  a  boat 
there  in  which  they  cross  the  Potomac ;  it  is 
about  twenty-six  feet  long,  and  capable  of  car- 
rying about  sixteen  persons ;  they  keep  it 
about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  above,  on  the 
creek. 

At  the  Signal  Camp  I  saw  about  twelve 
men,  commanded  by  Sergeant  Harry  Brog- 
den ;  they  were  armed  with  revolvers.  They 
collect  passes  that  are  granted  in  Richmond, 
run  the  mail  and  Rebel  agents  North,  and 
back  again.  They  told  me  they  were  expect- 
ing some  twelve  or  fifteen  parties  back  from 
Maryland  again,  very  soon. 

When  I  came  over  in  the  boat  it  was 
manned  by  four  oarsmen  and  one  steersman, 
and  as  passengers,  Norris,  an  Englishman  and 
myself,  and  brought  over  a  mail.  We  landed 
at  Cobb  Neck.  Morris  said  he  would  start 
back  from  the  other  side  of  the  Wicomico. 

The  following  are  additional  names  of  mem- 
bers of  the  Signal  Corps: 

Rowley. 

214 


WILLIAM  J.  BRADLEY,  REFUGEE 

Reed,   formerly  a  boatman  on  the 

Potomac. 

Brockenborough. 

These  men  said  they  were  daily  expecting 
members  of  Mosby's  command  on  the  Neck. 

The  route  Bradley  came  was  the  exact  route  of 
the  regular  spies;  but  the  information  he  gave  me 
was  of  a  character  to  prove  that  although  he  came 
by  the  official  route,  he  was  being  honest  with  me. 
Some  of  the  information  was  new,  and  all  of  it  was 
true  and  valuable.  I  drew  out  the  detailed  informa- 
tion about  the  signal  camp  to  guide  me.  I  was 
determined  to  capture  it,  and  in  April  following  my 
expedition  was  planned  to  start,  but  was  prevented 
by  the  assassination  of  the  President. 

Baltimore  City  Jail, 

Dec.  23,  1864. 
Statement  of  Charles  E.  Langley  (official 

Confederate  spy). 
"I  was  born  and  raised  in  Winchester,  Vir- 
ginia. I  resided  in  Baltimore  some  time 
previous  to  the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  I 
was  in  Washington  at  the  Inauguration  of 
President  Lincoln ;  was  keeping  a  butter  store 
in  Baltimore. 

In  the  summer  of  1861,  or  perhaps  early  in 
the  fall,  I  went  to  Winchester;  my  parents 
resided  there.    The  cars  ran  through  to  Win- 

215 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

Chester,  I  went  on  the  cars,  no  passes  were 
required  from  me  on  the  road.  The  Confed- 
erate troops  occupied  Winchester  at  the  time. 
I  went  to  work  on  the  Winchester  Railroad 
after  I  arrived;  worked  a  short  time.  I  re- 
mained at  Winchester  all  that  winter ;  was  not 
in  the  army. 

The  next  spring  (1862),  I  went  to  Rich- 
mond. Went  to  work  driving  an  express 
wagon.  Worked  at  that  until  the  next  fall.  I 
worked  for  the  Southern  Express  Co. ;  a  man 
named  Holbrook,  from  Baltimore,  was  at  work 
for  the  Express  Co.  at  the  same  time.  The 
draft  came  off  that  fall  and  I  left  for  Win- 
chester to  escape  it.  I  tried  to  pretend  I  was 
from  Maryland,  and  therefore  exempt,  but  as 
I  was  too  well  known  it  would  not  work.  I 
did  nothing  after  I  returned  to  Winchester, 
and  staid  there  till  Christmas.  The  town  was 
then  occupied  by  Union  troops.  About  the 
last  of  Jan.  1863,  I  visited  Baltimore  and  tried 
to  get  a  situation ;  I  remained  in  Baltimore 
about  two  months,  doing  nothing.  I  stopped 
at  Mann's  Hotel,  that  is,  I  got  my  meals  there, 
as  I  wanted  them.  I  stopped  part  of  the  time 
with  "Bonis,"  a  tinner,  out  Fayette  street; 
I  used  to  board  with  them  before  the  war. 

I  went  back  to  Winchester  about  the  first 

of    March,  but  could   get  nothing  to   do.      I 

staid  about  a  couple  of  weeks  and  then  came 

back  to  Baltimore.     I  tried  again  to  get  work 

216 


WILLIAM  J.  BRADLEY,  REFUGEE 

here,  tried  to  get  on  the  Bahimore  &  Ohio 
Railroad.  I  worked  on  that  road  before  the 
war,  about  three  or  four  years.  I  offered  my 
services  to  Mr.  Smith,  Master  of  Transpor- 
tation, as  a  kind  of  scout  for  them,  to  ascer- 
tain when  the  road  was  injured,  and  where, 
and  other  information  relative  to  the  safety  of 
the  road.  I  did  go  up  the  road  for  him  on 
several  occasions  in  1863  and  gave  him  satis- 
faction. 

I  went  up  the  road  for  Mr.  Smith  at  the 
time  Lee  was  crossing  into  Maryland ;  could 
not  get  back,  and  went  home  to  Winchester ; 
the  Rebels  occupied  the  town.  I  was  arrested 
for  being  in  Maryland,  as  a  Yankee  spy,  was 
kept  about  a  week  and  then  discharged,  as 
they  had  no  proof  and  my  friends  in  Win- 
chester got  me  off. 

In  the  fall  of  1863,  when  the  Rebels  left,  I 
came  back  to  Baltimore.  I  went  to  see  Mr. 
Smith,  but  could  not  get  any  work  from  him. 
I  remained  in  Baltimore  until  about  Nov.  ist, 
when  I  went  on  to  New  York  to  make  ar- 
rangements with  Mr.  Sydney  H.  Gay,  to  ob- 
tain Richmond  papers  for  him.  Mr.  Gay  is 
connected  with  the  Tribune ;  I  went  to  work 
for  him,  used  to  go  down  the  valley  to  Win- 
chester and  obtain  papers  from  parties  down 
the  valley,  further  south  than  Winchester.  I 
was  successful  in  obtaining  papers  but  could 
have  done  better  if  I  had  had  an  assistant.  I 
217 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

don't  think  I  gave  my  employer  justice,  but  I 
remained  there  to  do  the  best  I  could.  I  con- 
tinued in  this  business  until  April  ist,  1864.  I 
was  stopped  part  of  the  time  on  account  of 
want  of  means ;  my  pay  was  not  sufficient  to 
enable  me  to  make  proper  arrangements. 

I  remained  in  Winchester  about  two  weeks 
trying  to  make  arrangements.  I  would  not 
tell  who  I  obtained  the  papers  from  in  the 
valley.  I  used  to  bring  the  papers  as  far  as 
Kearneysville.  I  always  reported  to  the  Pro- 
vost Marshal  at  Kearneysville  when  I  arrived 
there,  of  any  information  I  had  obtained  of 
the  (Rebel)  enemy. 

I  went  down  the  valley  to  a  friend,  near 
Strausburg,  to  see  about  getting  the  papers 
more  regularly.  I  got  inside  the  Rebel  lines 
and  could  not  get  out.  I  remained  inside  their 
lines  at  New  Market,  with  some  friends, 
about  six  weeks.  I  staid  there  until  the  fight 
with  Sigel.  That  very  day  Breckenridge  had 
me  arrested  for  holding  communication  with 
the  Federal  troops.  I  was  kept  in  confinement 
two  months,  and  afterwards  in  arrest  under 
three  thousand  dollars  bail  for  five  months. 

About  Sept.  I  St,  I  came  up  to  Winchester 
to  my  home,  and  was  ordered  back  again.  I 
went  back  and  staid  until  about  October,  the 
last  of  the  month.  I  then  crossed  the  Ridge 
and  made  my  way  to  Harper's  Ferry.  I  got 
on  the  cars  at  Van  Kleeve's  Station,  Baltimore 
218 


CIIARIJ^s    E.    LAXGLEV. 


CHARLES  E.  LANGLEY,  A  SPY 

&  Ohio  Railroad,  and  came  on  to  Baltimore. 
I  arrived  here  about  the  last  of  October.  I 
stopped  at  Mr.  Perig-oy's,  No.  34  George 
street;  his  wife  is  a  distant  relative  of  mine. 
I  was  not  doing  anything  in  particular,  in- 
tended to  go  to  New  York  to  see  Mr.  Gay.  I 
was  also  trying  to  find  out  who  caused  me  to 
be  arrested  by  Breckenridge,  as  I  was  confi- 
dent some  Rebels  in  Baltimore  were  the  cause 
of  it. 

I  also  heard  that  Breckenridge  said  a  citizen 
of  Kearneysville  had  reported  me  as  having 
given  information  to  the  A.  Adjutant  General 
at  Harper's  Ferry. 

I  was  arrested  Sunday  night  on  the  street 
on  my  way  home,  by  Government  detectives. 
I  gave  them  a  false  name.  I  never  was  in  the 
Rebel  army.  Have  never  taken  the  oath  of 
allegiance ;  have  never  been  asked  to  take  it ; 
think  my  arrest  was  not  justified." 

(Signed)    Chas.  E.  Langley. 

I  followed  this  man  a  year.  After  I  arrested 
him  very  powerful  interests  tried  to  frighten  me  ; 
tried  to  make  me  believe  the  prisoner  was  such  an 
important  person  that  his  name  must  be  whispered 
only.  That,  in  fact,  he  was  Mr.  Lincoln's  personal 
man,  and  reporting  only  to  Mr.  Lincoln.  They 
threatened  to  have  my  commission  taken  from  me. 
Finally  the  prisoner  himself  offered  to  give  up  the 
2ig 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

"hotel  burners"  of  New  York,  if  I  would  let  up. 
I  answered  that  I  thought  "a.  bird  in  hand  worth 
two  in  the  bush,"  and  I  held  him. 

Upon  his  person  I  found  his  authority  from  the 
New  York  "Tribune"  to  collect  news  at  the  front. 
This  authority  had  been  his  open  sesame  through 
our  lines.  I  came  to  New  York  and  saw  Mr.  Sid- 
ney B.  Gay,  of  the  "Tribune" ;  he  informed  me  that 
he  remembered  such  a  person,  that  he  came  to  him 
highly  recommended ;  that  he  gave  him  the  author- 
ity but  had  never  heard  from  him.  I  learned  later 
that  the  powerful  interests  that  were  working  on 
me  to  compel  his  release  were  the  same  that  had 
highly  recommended  him  to  the  "Tribune."  He  was 
a  very  successful  and  dangerous  spy  until  I  inter- 
fered. 

I  will  not  tell  you  who  the  powerful  interests 
were;  suffice  it  to  say  they  were  Confederates,  do- 
ing good  work  for  the  Confederacy  all  the  while. 
Yet  they  had  the  entree  of  the  departments  at 
Washington,  having  very  powerful  influence  there. 
There  were  no  other  parties  in  the  United  States 
so  strongly  allied.  Through  their  medium  many 
strange  things  were  manipulated.  I  will  not 
mention  their  names,  for  they  are  all  dead  now. 
I  consider  Langley's  arrest  one  of  the  most 
important. 

Of  all  the  newspapers  the  "Tribune"  was  the 
very  best  to  conjure  with.    Any  person  who  could 

220 


CHARLES  E.  LANGLEY,  A  SPY 

show     credentials     from     that    paper    would    un- 
doubtedly be  welcome  anywhere  on  our  lines. 

Langley  knew  that  I  would  visit  the  "Tribune," 
hence  his  efforts  in  his  statement  to  account  for 
why  he  had  not  served  them. 


221 


FILE   XXIX. 

Patrick  Scally,  an  honest  deserter  from  the  Confed- 
erate service — A  sketch  of  the  defences  of  Rich- 
mond. 

The  following  statement  is  interesting  as  show- 
ing how  a  poor,  ignorant,  drunken  man  was  hur- 
ried off  with  Gilmor  and  Bradley  T.  Johnson,  in 
July,  '64,  when  they  retreated  from  north  of  Balti- 
more. 

I  feel  sure  the  whiskey  was  paid  for  by  Judge 
Grason,  or  Mr.  Cockey,  or  some  of  the  other  dis- 
loyals  spoken  of  in  Mr.  Kremer's  and  my  own 
former  reports.  They  undoubtedly  gave  him  the 
horse,  also : 

Baltimore,  Md., 
Dec.  23,  1864. 
Statement  of  Patrick  Scally : 

"I  was  born  in  Ireland.  I  lived  in  Texas, 
Baltimore  County,  for  five  years  before  I  went 
South  ;  my  father  and  mother  live  tliere.  I  am 
a  laborer. 

I  went  South  on  the  tenth  of  last  July,  that 
is,  I  joined  Gilmor's  command   at   Texas.     I 
joined  Company  C,  Second  Maryland  Battal- 
222 


SKETCH  OF  RICHMOND'S  DEFENCES 

ion.  They  gave  me  a  horse,  carbine  and  sabre. 
The  second  day  after  I  joined  them  I  was  in 
the  fight  in  front  of  Washington,  but  did  not 
like  the  fighting  much. 

I  was  drunk  when  I  joined  them  and  didn't 
know  what  I  was  doing. 

1  deserted  from  them  on  the  ist  day  of 
August  between  Hancock  and  Cumberland, 
and  went  to  work  for  a  farmer  named  Mc- 
Lean, a  good  Union  man ;  he  didn't  know  that 
I  was  a  deserter.  I  worked  for  him  about 
two  weeks.  1  then  went  to  Cumberland,  and 
then  went  to  Pittsburg  and  there  worked  for 
Wood,  Matthews  &  Co.,  nearly  four  months. 
I  was  afraid,  while  at  work  for  Mr.  McLean, 
that  the  Rebels  would  catch  me  and  shoot  me. 

I  didn't  report  at  Pittsburg  because  I  didn't 
know  there  was  any  necessity  for  so  doing; 
the  people  in  Pittsburg  did  not  know  that  I 
had  been  with  the  Rebels.  I  was  only  with 
the  Rebels  three  weeks,  they  never  gave  me  a 
uniform ;  they  once  paid  me  ten  dollars  in 
Confederate  money. 

I  was  sworn  into  the  Rebel  service  the  same 
day  that  I  enlisted,  while  I  was  drunk.  I  wore 
the  same  citizens  clothes  that  I  wore  from 
home,  while  with  the  Rebels.  I  would  have 
deserted  the  next  morning  after  I  joined  them 
if  I  could,  but  could  not  get  any  chance. 

I  left  Pittsburg  last  Sunday  night,  got  home 
to  Texas  yesterday  evening.  My  father  told 
223 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

me  I  would  have  to  come  here  and  take  the 
oath  and  if  I  did  not  I  would  be  arrested  as  a 
spy.  I  knew  I  had  to  give  myself  up  before. 
I  came  in  town  this  morning  and  gave  myself 
up. 

I  cannot  read  or  write.  I  have  heard  the 
newspapers  read,  but  not  often.  I  never  heard 
of  the  President's  Proclamation,  don't  know 
what  it  is." 

his 
(Signed)  Patrick     X     Scally. 
mark 

Below  is  a  sketch  of  the  fortifications  bounding 
Richmond  on  the  east  and  north.  The  information 
came  to  me  from  Dr.  A's  brother,  who  had  just  ar- 
rived from  Richmond.  The  source  of  information 
being  so  reliable,  a  copy  was  made  and  forwarded 
to  General  Grant,  The  date  of  its  transmission  I 
have  not. 

When  General  Grant  made  the  assault  on  Rich- 
mond, on  the  east  and  north,  on  Sept.  26,  1864, 
the  colored  troops  under  General  Birney  encoun- 
tered this  ditch. 

I  quote  from  reports : 

"On  Sep.  28th  a  movement  was  made  by 
General   Grant  on  the  North  of  the  James. 
It  was  predicated  on  the  belief  that  only  a 
224 


225 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

small  force  of  the  enemy  occupied  the  works 
on  the  North  side  of  the  river." 

"General  Birney  was  ordered  by  a  rapid 
movement  at  daylight,  to  capture  the  enemy's 
work  in  front  of  Deep  Bottom,  and  gain  pos- 
session of  the  New  Market  road  leading  to 
Richmond." 

"Two  Regiments  only,  of  the  Colored  Di- 
vision, reached  one  of  the  Rebel  forts,  where 
they  found  a  ditch  ten  feet  wide  and  eight 
feet  deep  between  them  and  the  parapet. 

More  than  a  hundred  of  these  brave  fellows 
jumped  into  the  ditch  and  assisted  some  of 
their  comrades  to  mount  the  parapet  by  allow- 
ing them  to  climb  up  on  their  shoulders, 
about  a  dozen  succeeded  in  mounting  the  para- 
pet by  this  means.  But  this  force  which  had 
bravely  pushed  on,  was  far  too  small  to  cap- 
ture the  fort,  and  was,  therefore,  compelled  to 
retire,  leaving  their  comrades  in  the  ditch  of 
the  fort. 

But  these  were  unable  to  make  good  their 
escape,  as  it  would  have  been  certain  death 
to  leave  the  ditch  and  return  to  the  troops, 
and  were  afterwards  compelled  to  surrender. 

About  800  men  were  lost  in  this  assault  in 
killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners." 

I  regret  not  having  the  date  upon  which  my  in- 
formation was  forwarded  to  General  Grant,  but  it 
evidently  was  not  in  his  hand  by  September  28th. 
226 


COLONEL     IL\KkV     GILMOR. 


FILE    XXX. 

Confederate  Colonel  Harry  Gilmor,  the  raider,  telling 
how  he  did  not  "come  back"  as  a  conquering  hero ; 
of  the  sword  he  never  received;  of  his  capture, 
etc. — The  arrest  and  conviction  of  the  fair  donor. 

Colonel  Harty  Gilmor,  who  commanded  a  regi- 
ment of  cavalry  in  the  Confederate  service,  was  a 
Baltimorean.  He  was  the  beau  ideal  of  its  "blue 
blood"  ladies,  or  many  of  them ;  he  was  their  hero 
who  was  to  ultimately  capture  the  Monumental 
City,  who  was  to  march  down  Charles  Street  Ave- 
nue as  conquerors  only  return.  He  had  earnestly 
tried  to  produce  the  closing  scene  of  his  drama  in 
July,  but  failed;  when,  to  cheer  him  to  renew  his 
efforts,  they  proposed  to  present  him  with  a  mag- 
nificent sabre.  They  purchased  the  best  to  be  found 
from  Messrs.  Schuyler,  Hartley  &  Graham,  arms 
dealers,  then  in  Maiden  Lane,  New  York  (now  on 
Broadway),  paying  for  it  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  dollars  in  gold. 

I  was  told  the  dainty  creatures  were  so  anxious 

for  the  safe  custody  of  their  token  of  war,  that 

they  placed  it  under  the  British  flag,  pending  the 

opportunity  to  get  it  to  the  Colonel ;  that  is,  they 

227 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

left  it  with  Mrs.  Frederick  Bernal,  wife  of  the 
British  Consul  at  Baltimore.  The  sympathies  of 
many  of  the  Britishers  were  decidedly  with  the 
South. 

Gilmor  was  a  born  raider.  He  used  to  raid  the 
hearts  of  these  Blue  Belles  "befo  de  wah,"  on 
Charles  Street  Avenue.  His  command  was  made 
up  largely  of  Marylanders,  and  Maryland  was  fre- 
quently the  victim  of  his  incursions.  Our  desire 
to  "possess"  him  was  perhaps  as  great  as  that  of 
any  of  his  lady  admirers. 

On  November  ist,  1864,  I  intercepted  the  sword 
on  its  way  to  Harry.  From  the  person  of  the  mes- 
senger I  got  a  letter  which  was  to  make  him  "solid" 
when  he  should  arrive  in  the  Confederate  territory. 
Gilmor  was  understood  to  have  been  wounded,  and 
as  being  then  laid  up  at  the  Inglenby  Mansion,  three 
or  four  miles  from  Duffield  Station,  Virginia,  on 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  (the  Inglenby 
family  were  descendants  of  one  of  the  original  col- 
onists). 

The  letter  was  somewhat  blindly  framed,  it  did 
not  mention  the  bearer,  except  to  say  that  "he  is 
perfectly  reliable"  or   something  to   that  effect. 

I  proposed  to  General  Wallace  that  I  would  be 
the  messenger,  using  this  letter,  and  would  thus 
locate  Gilmor,  so  that  he  might  be  captured. 

With  one  man,  Mr.  Kraft,  I  started  for  Harper's 
b^rry.  reported  to  General  Stevenson,  engaged  one 
228 


CONFEDERATE  COLONEL  GILMOR 

of  his  scouts,  Corporal  George  R.  Redman  (who 
at  one  time  was  of  my  corps)  to  go  with  me  and 
equipped  with  the  below  described  pass,  I  started 
out  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  for  Duf- 
field  Station. 

Office   Provost   Marshal, 
Military  District  of  Harper's  Ferry. 

Nov.  5,  1864. 
Guards  and  Pickets  will  pass  bearer  in  and 
around  this  Military  District.    Good  for  three 
days. 

By  order  of 

Brigadier  General  Stevenson, 

Commanding. 
A.  D.  Pratt, 

Capt.  &  Provost  Marshal. 

It  was  my  custom  never  to  have  about  me  any- 
thing to  indicate  my  name  or  identity.  And  to  con- 
ceal my  passes,  I  frequently  hammered  them  down 
mto  a  small  wad  in  the  finger  of  a  glove.  This  pass 
shows  such  an  appearance.  The  pass  did  not  indi- 
cate Duffield,  because  that  destination  was  a  secret. 

Duffield  was  a  small  way  station,  and  any 
stranger  alighting  there,  especially  in  those  days, 
would  be  noted.  ]\Iany  of  the  employees  of  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  were  Confederate 
sympathizers  (some  were  quite  active).  To  give 
no  chance  for  warning,  we  waited  until  just  after 
the  train  started  up,  and  then  we  dropped  off,  on 
229 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

the  far  side,  covering  view  of  us  until  the  train 
was  again  under  headway. 

We  separated  and  I  went  ahead,  across  fields, 
until  I  was  so  far  away  as  to  apparently  have  no 
connection  with  my  men,  who  were  following ;  we 
had  about  three  or  four  miles  to  go  thus.  Finally, 
when  I  reached  the  Inglenby  house,  my  boys  were 
near  enough  to  be  in  sight,  yet  concealed. 

At  the  house  I  introduced  myself  and  presented 
my  letter.  For  the  purpose,  I  represented  myself 
as  a  Baltimorean,  of  course — a  "hack  driver  at 
Barnum's  Hotel."  I  learned  that  Gilmor  had  been 
there,  but  only  recently  had  gone  down  the  valley. 
I  told  them  of  the  sword,  that  the  donors  wanted 
to  learn  how  to  reach  Colonel  Gilmor,  accurately ; 
hence  my  trip.  They  treated  me  very  nicely,  pre- 
pared a  good  meal  for  me  with  true  Virginia  hos- 
pitality ;  finally  I  departed. 

When  I  arrived  where  the  boys  were  concealed, 
I  found  them  extremely  anxious  to  get  away  from 
that  section.  While  they  were  laying  there  a  man 
had  approached  them,  saying  that  he  knew  they 
were  "deserters  from  the  Yanks"  ;  the  boys  admitted 
it.  He  asked  them  if  they  wanted  to  go  South. 
They  told  him  "yes."  He  told  them  he  knew  it, 
and  after  it  got  dark  he  would  take  them.  He 
told  them  that  some  of  Mosby's  men  were  just 
over  on  the  road.  My  boys  were  not  really  hungry 
to  go  South,  but  wanted  to  start  across  the  coun- 
230 


THROUGH  OUR  LINES  TO  MEET  HIM 

try  for  Harper's  Ferry  without  delay,  which  we  did, 
arriving  there  late  in  the  evening,  in  the  custody 
of  our  own  pickets,  who  had  captured  us  at  Hall- 
town. 

Had  I  reached  Gilmor  I  believe  I  might  have 
tried  to  capture  him,  had  I  found  the  odds  favor- 
able. He  was  a  giant  in  stature.  How  game  he 
was  I  do  not  know.  I  will  give  you  a  reproduction 
of  his  photograph,  which  I  have. 

Upon  my  return  to  Baltimore  I  arrested  the  rep- 
resentative fair  donor  of  the  sabre,  as  General  Wal- 
lace has  told.  She  resided  in  the  ultra  fashionable 
neighborhood,  not  far  from  Monument  Square. 
After  I  had  searched  her  house,  she  accompanied 
me  to  the  sidewalk,  but  absolutely  refused  to  enter 
my  carriage.  I  informed  her  that  it  would  be  much 
more  agreeable  to  ride  than  to  walk,  but  still  she 
refused.  I  then  told  her  that  I  would  be  gentle- 
manly if  allowed,  but  I  insisted  that  she  must  get 
into  the  carriage.     She  finally  complied. 

The  lady  was  tried  before  a  military  commission 
of  which  Lieut.-Colonel  J.  H.  Barrett  was  president. 
She  was  sentenced  to  five  years  imprisonment  at 
Fitchburg,  Massachusetts,  and  to  pay  a  fine  of  five 
thousand  dollars. 

A  Mr.  William  J.  Ives,  who  purchased  the  sword 
in  New  York,  was  also  tried.    He  escaped  punish- 
ment on  the  plea  that  he  was  ignorant  of  the  pur- 
pose for  which  the  sword  was  purchased. 
231 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

One  of  Gilmor's  officers  I  subsequently  captured. 
He  had  come  into  our  lines,  having  one  of  those 
"remount"  leaves  from  his  command.  It  was  not 
proposed  to  treat  him  as  severely  as  a  spy,  but  to 
hold  him  as  a  prisoner  of  war.  I  did  not  make 
him  aware  of  this,  however,  but  left  him  under  the 
stress  of  the  impression  that  he  might  fear  the 
worst,  and  I  proposed  to  him  that  we  would  permit 
him  to  return  to  his  command  provided  he  would 
agree  to  make  it  easy  for  General  Sheridan's 
scouts  to  capture  Harry.  I  knew  my  man  and  had 
confidence  he  would  carry  out  his  part  of  the  bar- 
gain, especially  since  the  stake  played  for  was,  as 
he  supposed,  his  life,  I  let  him  go,  and  advised 
General  Sheridan  of  the  arrangement.  The  fol- 
lowing is  the  acknowledgment  of  my  communica- 
tion: 

Provost  Marshal's  office. 
Headquarters,  Middle  Military  Division. 
Winchester,  Va.,  Jany.  25,  1865. 
Lieut.  Smith. 

Dear  Sir. — I  have  submitted  your  communi- 
cation to  General  Sheridan,  and  he  has  taken 
action  in  the  case. 

With  respect, 

John  A.  Gernos. 

The  expedition  connected  with  the  following  pass 
through  the  pickets  at  Harper's  Ferry  was  pertain- 
ing to  Gilmor's  capture : 

232 


GILMOR'S  CAPTURE 

Office  Provost  Marshal, 
Military  District  of  Harper's  Ferry. 

Jany.  27,  1865. 
Guards  and  Pickets  will  pass  Capt.  H.  B. 
Smith  to  any  place  about  the    Ferry,  Sandy 
Hook,  or  Berlin. 
Good  for  two  days. 

By  order  of  Brigadier  General  Stevenson. 

A.  D.  Pratt, 
Major  &  Provost  Marshal. 

On  February  6th,  1865,  Gilmor  was  captured  by 
General  Sheridan.  Major  Young,  Chief  of  his 
Scouts,  brought  him  to  Colonel  Woolley's  office,  on 
his  way  to  prison  in  Fort  Warren.  Mr.  W.  G. 
Woodside,  paymaster  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad,  a  mutual  ( ?)  friend  of  Gilmor  and  my- 
self, came  to  my  office  and  invited  me  to  be  intro- 
duced, saying  that  Harry  said  he  knew  me.  Gen- 
eral Woolley's  office  was  crowded.  Gilmor  was 
asked  by  Mr.  Woodside  to  point  me  out,  but  he 
could  not.  I  had  never  advertised  my  face  very 
much ;  it  better  suited  my  purposes  to  be  unknown. 

Gilmor  said  to  me,  if  he  had  had  the  sword,  he 
would  have  killed  many  a  Yank  with  it.  A  safe 
enough  proposition  under  the  circumstances.  Gil- 
mor in  appearance  was  attractive,  as  a  soldier,  tall, 
fairly  stout,  but  he  had  one  defective  eye  and  was 
rather  coarse  in  manners. 

After  the  war  I  saw  the  officer  of  Gilmor's  regi- 

233 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

ment  who  had  been  our  prisoner  and  who  agreed  to 
surrender  Gilmor,  or  rather  make  his  capture  pos- 
sible. I  was  sorry  to  see  that  he  had  become  dissi- 
pated. He  told  me  the  cause  was  his  social  ostra- 
cism by  the  "Blue  Bloods."  I  have  never  men- 
tioned his  name,  and  never  will.  I  have,  I  think, 
a  fair  amount  of  moral  tone,  and  I  cannot  see  that 
this  man's  act  was  low.  He  supposed  that  he  was 
obtaining  the  privilege  to  live,  in  exchange  for  the 
mere  incarceration  of  Gilmor.  It  was  not  the  trad- 
ing of  a  life  for  a  life.  I  sincerely  trust  the  young 
man  has  not  suffered  a  lifetime  for  the  act. 

On  June  15th,  1873,  I  received  from  Gilmor  the 
following  letter : 

Baltimore,  Md., 
15th  June,  1873. 
Lt.  H.  B.  Smith, 
New  York. 

My  Dear  Sir. — I  have  been  trying  for  some 
time  past  to  learn  your  address,  and  hope  I 
have  at  last  succeeded,  with  the  assistance  of 
Major  Wiegel. 

My  object  in  writing  is  to  know  whether  or 
not  you  still  have  in  your  possession  the  sword 
which  the  ladies  of  Baltimore  intended  for 
me,  but  which  fell  into  your  hands. 

If  you  have  the  sword  still,  and  would 
be  willing  to  dispose  of  it,  will  you  say  what 
you  will  take  for  it,  as  I  would  like  very  much 
to  own  it,  if  it  did  not  cost  too  much. 

234 


CONVICTION  OF  THE  FAIR  DONOR 

I  have  been  lately  elected  to  the  Command 
of  a  Battalion  of  Cavalry  in  this  city,  com- 
posed of  men  who  v^ere  on  both  sides  during 
the  "late  unpleasantness,"  and  am  very  anx- 
ious to  make  a  fine  battalion  of  it. 

If  you  will  do  me  the  favor  to  communi- 
cate with  me  on  this  subject  I  will  be  very 
grateful. 

Address,  very  truly  yours, 

Harry  Gilmor, 
Cor.  President  &  Fawn  Streets, 
Baltimore,  Md. 

At  that  time  everything  was  being  done  to  "heal 
the  wound"  and  I  was  disposed  to  do  my  little  part. 
I  was  disposed  to  present  the  sword  to  him,  first 
getting  General  Wallace's  approval.  But  on  con- 
ferring with  Union  people  of  Baltimore,  I  concluded 
not  to ;  they  thought  any  ostentatious  display  of  the 
sword  would  help  keep  the  wound  open. 


235 


FILE   XXXI. 

Steam  tug  "Grace  Titus" — Statement  of  George  Carl- 
ton, containing  valuable  confirmatory  information. 

Depot  Quartermaster's  Office, 
Baltimore,  Jany.  i6,  1865. 
Captain,  Steam  Tug 
"Grace  Titus." 
You  will  proceed  with  your  tug  as  directed 
by  Lieut.   H.  B.   Smith,  who  will  hand  you 
this. 

Upon  completion  of  the  service  demanded 
by  Lieut.  Smith,  you  will  return  to  this  port 
and  report  to  me. 

Respectfully, 

A.    M.    CUMMINGS, 

Capt.  &  Quartermaster. 

I  cannot  recall  what  the  expedition  was  for.  In- 
cidentally, I  may  say,  I  am  continually  recognizing 
that  many  good  stories  will  be  omitted  from  lapses 
of  memory,  but  you  will  not  lose  much,  as  the  ones 
I  am  furnishing  serve  to  show  the  general  varied 
character  of  my  work.  My  own  personal  work  and 
the  work  of  my  men,  employed  in  every  direction, 
236 


STEAM  TUG  "GRACE  TITUS" 

kept  me  busy.     I  had  a  man  on  every  steamer  ply- 
ing Chesapeake  Bay. 

In  glancing  over  subpoenas  to  attend  courts,  I  find 
name  after  name,  none  of  which  occur  here ;  but 
the  most  important  proposition  before  me  was  to 
gather  information  that  would  assist  me  in  my  pro- 
posed work  to  cripple  Mosby's  damaging  work  in 
the  territory  known  as  "between  the  lines."  It  was 
the  country  outside  our  lines  and  outside  the  Con- 
federate lines,  peopled  by  our  enemies,  always  will- 
ing to  serve  the  Confederacy,  never  serving  us; 
acting  as  a  sponge  to  draw  supplies  from  us  by 
means  of  blockade-running,  which  could  in  turn  be 
absorbed  by  the  Confederates.  The  efforts  of  our 
gunboats  to  stop  the  traffic  were  futile,  as  I  have 
heretofore  remarked. 

Office  Provost  Marshal, 

8th  Army   Corps. 
Baltimore,  Jany.  19,   1865. 
Statement  of  George  Carlton,  deserter.  Bat- 
tery   Baltimore,    Rebel    Horse    Artillery, 
says : 
"I   am  a  native  of   Brooklyn,  New  York. 
Went  South  in  the  year  1859;  went  to  Mo- 
bile.   I  was  engaged  in  a  dry  goods  store.    In 
May,  1862,  I  was  put  in  the  Rebel  Army  at 
Richmond,  which  place  I  was  taken  to  from 
Mobile.     I  had  the  chance  to  join  what  com- 
mand I  pleased  and  I  joined  the   Baltimore 

'^17 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

Battery  in  Richmond.  I  staid  in  the  company 
two  weeks,  then  was  detailed  in  the  Quarter- 
master's Department  at  Gordonsville,  Va. 

"I  remained  there  until  the  spring  of  1864, 
when  I  was  sent  to  my  Company,  then  in  the 
valley,  under  Early.  I  stayed  with  the  Com- 
pany until  Oct.  1864,  when  I  deserted  from 
my  Company  and  came  to  Westmorland 
County,  Va.,  and  then  took  a  boat  and  crossed 
the  Potomac  River  and  landed  in  St.  Mary's 
County,  Md.,  and  from  there  I  walked  to 
Baltimore. 

"I  was  afraid  to  attempt  to  desert  before 
that  time.  (Oct.  '64.)  I  deserted  during 
Early's  retreat.  The  Battery  that  I  was  a 
member  of  lost  all  their  guns.  I  heard  officers 
say  that  they  lost  forty-four  pieces. 

"I  had  a  hard  time  getting  through  West- 
morland County.  I  did  not  cross  the  river 
until  about  two  weeks  ago,  and  during  that 
time  I  have  been  on  my  way  from  St.  Mary's 
County  to  this  city. 

"Now  I  wish  to  give  certain  information  to 
the  Government :  John  J.  Spaulding,  who  lived 
near  Leonardstown,  Md.,  and  now  lives  on 
the  Virginia  side,  at  Westmorland  Court 
House,  six  miles  from  the  Potomac  River, 
and  boarding  with  a  Mr.  Harvey,  who  keeps 
tavern  at  the  Court  House,  brought  me  over 
the  river  and  eight  persons  besides  myself. 

"He  brought  us  over  in  the  night ;  he  seemed 

238 


STEAM  TUG  "GRACE  TITUS" 

very  much  afraid,  and  kept  out  of  sight,  and 
landed  at  Cawood's  Bluff,  near  Britton's 
Bay. 

"Spaulding  is  a  blockade  runner,  and  keeps 
a  large  store  of  blockade  goods  at  Westmor- 
land Court  House.  He  brought  a  large  lot 
over  the  river  a  few  days  before  I  arrived  at 
the  Court  House.  He  keeps  his  boat  in  Poor 
Jack  Creek,  and  in  a  small  gut.  From  what 
I  heard,  I  think  when  he  comes  over  after 
goods  he  goes  to  St.  Clemmen's  Bay  in  St. 
Mary's  County,  up  to  a  certain  Merryman's 
store,  and  I  know  that  Merryman  sells  goods 
to  Spaulding  and  a  much  larger  quantity  to 
Watkins  &  Pumphrey,  two  blockade  runners 
at  the  Court  House. 

"Pumphrey  did  belong  to  my  company; 
Watkins  to  the  ist  Maryland  Infantry 
(Rebel)  and  deserted,  and  they  are  now  run- 
ning the  blockade. 

"Watkins  and  Pumphrey  were  over  about 
a  month  ago,  and  while  on  their  way  up  St. 
Clemmen's  Bay,  while  landing  in  a  creek  near 
Merryman's  store,  the  Federal  Cavalry,  being 
informed  by  a  citizen  came  near  capturing 
them,  but  they  hid  in  their  hiding  place,  and 
then  they  went  in  the  night  to  iMerryman's 
store ;  he  told  them  that  if  they  were  not  more 
careful,  he  would  not  sell  them  goods. 

"Pumphrey  told  me  about  it  when  he  came 
back  to  the  Court  House.     They  bought  at 

239 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

that  time  about  five  hundred  dollars'  worth 
of  goods ;  Pumphrey  showed  me  the  bill  made 
out  by  Merryman.  The  kind  and  quantity  of 
goods  were,  sugar,  coffee,  dry-goods,  gray 
cloth,  hats,  boots  and  shoes,  gun-caps,  powder, 
spices  and  other  goods,  shot,  &c. 

"I  have  seen  them  haul  the  goods  from  the 
boat  to  the  Court  House,  and  have  seen  most 
of  the  things,  including  the  powder  and  caps 
on  Merryman's  bill.  The  powder  came  over 
in  cans,  weighing  about  five  pounds  each. 
The  party  who  hauls  the  stuff  from  Merry- 
man's  store  to  the  boat  is  named  Bows,  or 
Bowers,  who  lives  near  Leonardtown. 

"Jarboe  and  Molacy,  blockade  runners  who 
were  captured,  bought  their  goods  of  Merry- 
man,  sometimes.  Certain  vessels  running 
wood  from  near  Leonardtown  to  Washington 
or  Alexandria  as  a  pretext,  drop  in  on  the 
Virginia  shore  and  land  goods  and  recruits 
for  the  Rebel  Army,  so  I  learned  at  the  Court 
House. 

"John  J.  Spaulding  had  a  brother,  a  Doc- 
tor, in  Leonardtown,  who  forwarded  goods  to 
the  river  shore  for  his  brother  John ;  he.  Dr. 
Spaulding,  was  drafted  and  ordered  to  report. 
He  deserted  and  went  over  to  the  Virginia 
shore  to  his  brother,  and  took  Blair,  Bailey, 
Bowers,  a  son  of  the  man  who  hauls  goods, 
and  Hayden  ;  they  were  all  drafted  men. 

"Since   Dr.    Spaulding   left   this    side,    his 
240 


STATEMENT  OE  GEORGE  CARLTON 

wife,  Mrs.  Dr.  Eck  Spaulding,  has  attended  to 
all  the  business  in  that  line ;  she  has  the  name 
on  the  Virginia  side  of  being  the  smartest  of 
the  three  in  that  business.  The  Spauldings 
told  me  that  she  forwarded  stuff  to  them. 

"They  understood  that  I  had  a  furlough 
and  that  I  was  on  my  way  to  Maryland  to 
make  what  I  could  and  return  to  Virginia. 
John  Harvey,  the  keeper  of  the  tavern,  runs 
refugees  over  the  river,  but  I  can't  say 
whether  he  brings  goods  back  or  not,  but  run- 
ners say  he  does. 

"While  I  was  at  Westmorland  Court  House, 
some  four  companies  out  of  seven,  of  Mos- 
by's  men,  came  down  and  camped  at  Heathes- 
ville,  some  twenty  or  twenty-five  miles  from 
where  I  was.  They  intended  to  winter  their 
horses  there.  Mosby  was  not  in  command ; 
they  were  commanded  by  a  Major.  I  heard 
Mosby  was  wounded. 

"John  J.  Spaulding  showed  me  a  bill  of 
exchange,  fifteen  pounds  sterling,  on  Brown 
Brothers  and  Company,  Baltimore,  in  favor  of 
Thomas  Levering.  John  J.  Spaulding,  on  ar- 
rival on  this  side,  passed  it  into  the  hands  of 
Dr.  Spaulding's  wife,  for  collection. 

"About  six  weeks  ago  Spaulding  brought 
over  to  the  Md.  shore,  a  Lieut.  Smith,  of 
Mosby's  command,  and  Russel  Low,  and  Dan- 
iel DeWolf  Low,  and  at  another  time  Wm. 
H.  Sweeney,  of  Washington;  he  is  engaged 
241 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

to  get  married,  and  came  over  to  get  wedding 
clothes.  Sweeney  has  been  over  before,  in 
company  with  Watkins. 

"Spaulding  also  brought  over  a  man  by  the 
name  of  Richy,  who  was  a  detective  in  Rich- 
mond, and  has  carried  two  Rebel  mails  to 
Richmond  from  Maryland.  Spaulding  also 
brought  over  one  Carroll,  of  Baltimore ;  also 
some  Jew  blockade  runners,  and  a  great  many 
others.  The  Jews  run  a  great  deal  of  medi- 
cine for  the  Confederate  Government. 

"It  is  my  opinion  that  a  cavalry  force, 
landed  above  on  the  Neck,  could  cut  Mosby's 
four  companies  oflf,  and  capture  them  in  the 
position  they  lay. 

There  is  a  Signal  Post  on  the  Potomac 
River,  near  Mathias  Point,  Va.,  in  charge  of 
Captain  Caywood,  of  the  Confederate  Signal 
Corps.  He  has  a  boat,  and  in  good  weather 
he  comes  over  twice  a  week.  He  carries  the 
regular  mail  and  the  foreign  mail ;  it  is  a  regu- 
lar government  concern. 

"I  tried  to  find  out  who  assisted  him  on  this 
side,  but  could  not  do  so.  I  found  he  would 
carry  no  one  over  without  a  pass  from  the 
Secretary  of  War.  In  crossing  the  river  they 
sometimes  pass  within  1200  yards  of  a  gun- 
boat. 

(Signed  and  sworn.) 


242 


FILE   XXXII. 

The  pungy  "Trifle"  (one  of  the  captures)— Colonel 
McPhail— Major  Blumenberg  and  his  corrupted 
office— "Boney"  Lee,  Bob  Miller,  and  other  thugs. 

Office  of  Provost  Marshal  General 

for   Maryland. 
Baltimore,  Jany.  19,  1865. 
Capt.  Smith, 

Asst.  Provost  Marshal. 
Sir. — The    pungy    "Trifle"    now    stands    in 
the   name   of   Conrad   Prince.      She   changed 
owners  on  the  loth  of  June,  last. 

She  had  not  cleared  by  permit  since  then, 
but  may  have  done  so  by  manifest. 
Yours,  &c., 

McPhail. 

Colonel  McPhail  was  the  Civil  Provost  Alarshal 
of  Maryland,  having  exclusively  to  do  with  en- 
rollments and  drafts;  the  office  was  entirely  sep- 
arated from  the  military  service.  He  was  a  very 
clean,  upright,  honorable  man.  There  was,  how- 
ever, a  district  under  him,  having  at  its  head  a 
Major  Blumenberg,  that  was  very  corrupt. 

Soldiers  were  fleeced  out  of  bounty  money.    Sub- 

243 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

stitutes,  quite  frequently  colored  men,  were  paid 
large  sums  as  bounties,  more  money  than  they  had 
ever  seen  before.  By  collusion  between  officers  and 
clerks  in  Blumenberg's  office,  and  the  substitute 
brokers,  the  substitutes  were  induced  to  invest  in 
valueless  gewgaws,  sometimes  paying  for  a  two- 
dollar  Oride  watch  as  much  as  one  hundred  dollars. 

One  of  the  largest  substitute  brokerage  concerns 
tried  to  reach  me  with  an  offer  of  five  hundred 
dollars  a  week,  for  a  period  as  long  as  I  would 
let  them  alone.  The  offer  was  not  "dangerously 
near  my  price."  I  cleaned  up  the  whole  business 
very  soon. 

Blumenburg  appointed  a  lot  of  cut  throats  with 
authority  to  arrest  deserters,  paying  them  ten  dol- 
lars for  each  deserter  brought  in.  Their  opera- 
tions were  conducted  this  way :  One  of  these  fel- 
lows would  hail  a  soldier  who  was  out  on  pass, 
take  it  away  from  him,  pronouncing  it  fraudulent, 
but  would  allow  him  to  proceed  on  his  way ;  shortly 
he  would  be  hailed  again,  by  a  "pal,"  and  having,  of 
course,  no  pass  to  exhibit,  he  would  be  arrested, 
charged  with  desertion. 

I  was  over  in  Anne  Arundel  County  one  night 
with  three  or  four  of  my  men,  intending  to  look 
after  some  blockade-runners,  when  four  or  five  of 
Blumenburg's  thugs  picked  us  up,  supposing  we 
were  deserters  or  else  persons  come  to  invade  their 
territory.  They  were  going  to  do  all  sorts  of  things 
244 


BLUMENBERG'S  CORRUPTED  OFFICE 

to  us  and  pulled  out  their  revolvers.  I  made  no 
parade  of  mine  though  my  hand  was  on  it  all  the 
time.  I  quietly  informed  them  of  their  error,  and 
promised  them,  each  and  every  one  of  them,  to 
g-ive  them  a  chance  to  "play  checkers  with  their 
noses,"  and  I  kept  my  word,  for  within  a  short 
time  I  caught  them  in  their  nefarious  treatment  of 
honest  soldiers. 

The  party  was  composed  of  "Boney"  Lee,  Bob 

Miller,  Fletcher,  and  two  others,  each  one 

was  known  to  have  "done  time,"  yet  Blumenburg 
licensed  them.  I  broke  it  all  up,  and  they  became 
as  meek  as  lambs. 


245 


FILE    XXXIII. 

Statement  of  James   Briers,    Bollman,   McGuarty   and 
Welsh — U.  S.  Marine  Corps. 

Office  Provost  Marshal, 

8th  Army  Corps. 
Baltimore,  Jany.  26,  1865. 

Statement  of  James  Briers,  late  of  Rich- 
mond, Virginia,  who  says :  "I  am  a  native  of 
England,  came  to  this  country  about  1853, 
remained  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  about  six  months, 
then  went  to  Richmond,  and  went  into  the 
employ  of  the  Virginia  Central  Railroad  Co., 
and  remained  with  them  up  to  this  time. 

"About  December,  1863,  I  was  sent  into 
Lancaster  County,  by  the  Railroad  Company, 
to  buy  pork  for  them.  I  remained  about 
three  weeks,  bought  a  great  many  hogs. 

"November  20th,  1864,  was  again  appointed 
agent  to  buy  hogs  for  the  Railroad  Company, 
and  was  sent  to  Lancaster,  Westmorland  and 
other  Counties,  where  I  bought  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  head  in  Lancaster  and  Rich- 
mond Counties,  and  then  returned  to  Rich- 
mond on  night  of  25th  of  December. 

"I  was  sent  back  about  January  9th,  1865, 
into  the  same  Counties,  to  buy  pork.     Then 
246 


ST^.xEMENT  OF  JAiAlES  BRIERS 

having  a  chance  to  escape  I  made  my  way  to 
Westmorland  Court  House,  and  there  crossed 
the  river  into  Maryland. 

"I  stopped  with  Harvey,  who  keeps  the 
tavern  at  the  Court  House,  and  who  has  a 
boat,  with  which  he  runs  the  blockade.  John 
J.  Spaulding,  a  blockade  runner,  keeps  a 
store  at  the  Court  House ;  he  runs  over  a  great 
many  goods ;  comes  over  twice  a  week  for 
goods. 

"I  came  over  with  Spaulding.  He  thought  I 
was  coming  over  on  business  for  the  Railroad 
Company,  and  he  was  to  have  his  boat  over 
for  me,  and  some  goods,  in  two  days'  time. 
I  was  to  be  in  the  neighborhood  of  Caywood's 
place ;  he,  Caywood,  was  recommended  to  me 
as  all  right.  Spaulding  charged  me  fifty  dol- 
lars in  gold  and  was  to  bring  me  back.  Gil- 
son,  a  blockade  runner,  came  over  with  me. 
He  is  a  noted  blockade  runner,  and  he  is  in 
this  city  now.  He  ships  his  goods  from  here 
by  vessel,  marked  to  New  York.  The  vessel 
on  the  way  puts  out  the  goods ;  I  have  seen 
the  goods.  A  Confederate  Captain  also  came 
over  with  me ;  he  intended  to  get  a  boat  and 
cross  the  Bay  to  the  Eastern  shore  of  Mary- 
land, on  a  visit. 

"Watkins  and  Pumphrey,  two  blockade  run- 
ners at  the  Court  House,  also  run  the  blockade 
on  a  large  scale ;  also  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Hayden. 

247 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

"Dr.  Spaulding,  a  brother  of  John  J. 
Spaulding,  came  over  a  few  days  since  and 
took  his  wife  over  the  river  with  him ;  she 
Hved  near  Leonardtown. 

"Judge  Irving,  Captain  Thomas,  and  Fred. 
Smith,  an  old  blockade  firm  on  the  lower  river, 
are  still  in  that  business,  with  the  exception 
of  Smith,  who  was  captured  by  Colonel  Wool- 
ley  with  a  large  lot  of  tobacco,  and  now  said 
to  be  in  Fort  McFIenry.  Their  goods  are 
marked  for  New  York,  and  landed  down  the 
Bay,  so  Gibson  says,  and  then  run  to  Smith's 
Point  Light-house,  to  a  man  called  James 
Sutton,  who  lives  on  the  Virginia  shore  of  the 
creek  running  between  Smith's  Point  and  the 
Virginia  shore. 

"Bows,  Wells,  Hayden  and  Pumphrey,  a 
party  of  blockade  runners,  have  a  plan  laid  to 
bring  over  to  the  father  of  a  late  Confederate 
soldier,  living  in  St.  Mary's  County,  a  noted 
horse  upon  which  the  son  was  killed  in  battle ; 
they  are  to  come  over  the  first  dark  night  when 
the  ice  gives  away  in  Poor  Jack  Creek. 

"The  names  of  the  blockade  runners  I  know 
are  J.  J.  Spaulding,  Dr.  Eke  Spaulding,  Frank 
Simms,  Warren,  Hayden,  Bowers,  Wells, 
Watkins,   Pumphrey,   Harvey. 

"The  blockade  runners  generally  sink  their 
boats  in  the  creek,  when  not  in  use." 
(Sworn  and  subscribed.) 

248 


STATEMENT  OF  JAiMES  BRIERS 

460   15th  Street, 
Washington,  D.  C. 

Feb.  3,  1865. 
Lt.  Smith, 

Chief  of  Detectives. 
Sir. — I  desire  to  call  your  attention  to  the 
cases  of  Bollman,  McGuarty,  Welsh  and  an- 
other, privates  in  the  U.  S.  Marine  Corps, 
wherein  I  submitted  affidavits  to  you  some 
weeks  since. 

Their  commanding  officer  has  once  or  twice 
enquired  of  me  what  disposition  had  been 
made  of  their  matter.  I  told  him  that  I  had 
in  accordance  with  the  instructions  of  Colonel 
Woolley,  submitted  the  papers  to  you  and  that 
you  had  told  me  they  would  be  attended  to  in 
due  course  of  business.  He  is,  however,  very 
anxious  to  have  the  matter  disposed  of  as  soon 
as  possible,  as  the  men  are  at  any  moment  li- 
able to  be  detailed  on  distant  duty. 

If  you  will,  kindly  inform  me,  as  soon  as 
practicable,  what  determination  you  have  come 
to  in  these  cases. 

Very  respy., 

Selden  Hetzel, 
Attorney  at  Law. 
I  cannot  recall  the  cases. 


249 


FILE   XXXIV. 

General  W.  W.  Morris  in  command  in  General  Wal- 
lace's absence — General  Sheridan's  order  to  arrest 
E.  W.  Andrews,  formerly  adjutant  general  to 
General  Morris. 

General  W.  W.  Morris,  who  had  been  in  com- 
mand of  the  First  Brigade,  with  headquarters  at 
Fort  McHenry  (of  whom  I  have  spoken  before), 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  Department. 

To  make  himself  familiar  with  the  work  in  the 
departments,  he  interviewed  the  heads;  finally  he 
wanted  to  see  me.  He  made  the  call  pleasant  by 
saying:  "I  hear  your  work  well  spoken  of,"  for 
which  I  of  course  thanked  him.  I  told  him  I  had 
been  Assistant  Provost  Marshal  under  him  at  Fort 
McHenry.  The  old  soldier  brightened  up  and  re- 
marked:  "Oh,  yes,  now  I  remember;  my  Adjutant 
General  blamed  you  for  all  his  troubles.  Do  you 
think  Andrews  was  wrong?"  I  answered:  "Yes, 
he  ought  to  have  worn  the  grey." 

Not  many  days  after,  I  received  a  telegram  from 
General  Sheridan,  directing  the  arrest  and  confine- 
ment of  E.  W.  Andrews,  captain,  and  formerly  As- 
sistant Adjutant  General. 
250 


GENERAL  SHERIDAN'S  ORDER 

Believing  that  if  Andrews  was  in  Baltimore  he 
would  first  call  on  General  Morris,  I  went  there  at 
once,  and  showed  the  General  the  telegram.  Very 
soon  Andrews,  with  his  usual  pomp,  came  in.  He 
espied  me  at  once.  I  showed  him  my  authority 
from  General  Sheridan,  to  arrest  him.  I  permitted 
him  to  see  General  Morris — in  my  presence,  how- 
ever— and  extended  him  all  courtesies  I  consistently 
could ;  finally  taking  him  in  a  carriage  to  Fort 
McHenry,  I  obtained  the  following  receipt: 

Feb.  25,  1865. 
Reed,  from  Captain  Wiegel,    E.    W.    An- 
drews, a  prisoner,  for  safe  keeping. 

Dan.  Macauley, 
Col.  nth  Ind.  Vet.  Vols., 
Commanding  Brigade. 

This  receipt  was  given  me  in  the  room  formerly 
occupied  by  E.  W.  Andrews,  as  Adjutant  General. 
What  a  fall  was  there ! 

This  was  Andrews's  exeunt,  for  I  have  never 
seen  him  since.  I  subsequently,  however,  learned 
of  his  offense  in  the  Valley.  It  was  more  flirting 
with  the  enemy.  Some  of  Mosby's  men  had  been 
captured,  and  Andrews  came  to  their  rescue  and 
vouched  for  them  as  being  peaceful  citizens,  upon 
which  they  were  released,  but  in  a  few  days  they 
were  again  captured  while  committing  warlike  dep- 
redations. 

251 


FILE   XXXV. 

Ordered  to  New  York — Interviewed  Secretary  of  War 
Stanton  relative  to  an  independent  command  and 
extension  of  our  territory — Major  Wiegel's  weak- 
ness exposed. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 
Baltimore,  Feby.  lo,  1865. 
Special  Order  No.  27. 

Lieut.  H.  B.  Smith,  5th  N.  Y.  H.  Arty, 
and  Commanding  Detectives,  Middle  Depart- 
ment, 8th  Army  Corps,  with  one  man,  Lucius 
Babcock,  of  his  force,  will  proceed  to  New 
York  City,  on  special  government  business. 
After  transacting  same,  he  will  at  once  return 
to  these  headquarters. 

Quartermasters  will  furnish  transportation. 
By    command    of    Bvt.    Brigadier    General 
Morris. 

Wm.  H.  Wiegel, 
Capt.  &  Actg.  Provost  Marshal. 

The  following  refers  to  my  seeking  extended  ter- 
ritory : 

252 


INTERVIEW   WITH   STANTON 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 
Baltimore,  Feby.  21,  1865. 

Unofficial. 
Captain : 

General  IMorris  desires  you  to  write  a  let- 
ter about  Lieut.  Smith,  asking  such  an  ap- 
pointment as  will  suit  him.  Address  it  to  the 
Adjutant  General  and  send  it  to  me  and  I  will 
get  the  General  to  put  an  endorsement  on  and 
forward  it. 

Don't  you   think  you  could  take  it  to  the 
Secretary  and  accomplish  .something? 
Yours  truly, 

Samuel  B.  Lx\wrence, 
Assistant  Adjutant  General. 

To 

Capt.  Wiegel. 

Pending  the  issuance  of  a  commission  which  was 
to  give  me  an  independent  command,  to  operate  in 
the  Shenandoah  Valley,  and  also  south  of  the  lower 
Potomac,  I  had  been  striving  to  get  authority  to 
extend  our  operations  to  the  Rappahannock,  to  avail 
ourselves  of  the  valuable  data  we  had  accumulated. 

Captain  Wiegel  and  I  went  to  Washington,  as 
suggested  by  Colonel  Lawrence,  to  see  Secretary 
Stanton.  When  we  arrived  at  Mr.  Stanton's  door 
I  discovered  the  mental  makeup  and  character  of 
Wiegel.    Mr,  Stanton,  in  manner,  was  not  pleasant 

253 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

to  interview.  He  was  brusque,  rough,  and  appeared 
to  think  the  world  was  made  for  him.  Wiegel  had 
much  avoirdupois,  but  not  deep  brain  convolutions. 
He  had  been  on  General  Butler's  staff  in  New  Or- 
leans. He  was  full  of  egotism,  but  when  he  ap- 
proached Mr.  Stanton's  door  he  wilted,  and  asked 
me  to  do  the  talking,  while  he  listened. 

Mr.  Stanton  did  not  eat  me,  and  on  March  20th 
our  request  was  granted.  I  have  always  found  it 
pleasanter  to  do  business  with  the  proprietor  than 
with  the  man  that  sweeps  out. 

There  is  no  doubt  but  that  Secretary  Stanton 
made  many  critics  by  his  brusque  manner.  One  did 
not  need  to  waste  words  with  him,  but  if  a  com- 
munication was  couched  in  terse  language  it  pleased 
him.  He  disliked  a  cringing  interviewer.  I  did 
not  dislike  to  have  business  with  him,  nor  have  I 
ever  with  men  similarly  constituted. 

Wiegel  was  a  domineering  blusterer  to  his  subor- 
dinates, but  a  cringing  sycophant  to  those  over  him. 
Stanton's  office  was  not  a  congenial  climate  for 
him. 

Secretary  Dana  was  a  most  agreeable  gentleman, 
and  no  less  an  executive  than  Stanton. 


254 


FILE   XXXVI. 

Paine,  who  was  afterwards  one  of  the  conspirators 
in  the  assassinators'  plot,  in  my  custody — Miss 
Branson  appeared  to  plead  for  him — Paine  re- 
leased on  parole,  lacking  evidence  to  prove  him  a 
spy. 

I  will  now  introduce  the  material  from  which 
was  builded  an  actor.  Lewis  Paine,  who  brutally 
hacked  at  Secretary  Seward  while  Booth  was  as- 
sassinating the  President.  He  was  one  of  the  char- 
acters produced  for  the  closing  scene  in  that  great- 
est tragedy. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 

Baltimore,  Mch.  12,  1865. 
Major  Wm.  H.  Wiegel, 

Actg.  Provost  Marshal. 
Major. — I    have    the    honor   to    report    the 
arrest  of  Lewis  Paine,  a  refugee  from  Fau- 
quier County,  Va. 

He  was  arrested  at  the  house  of  Miss  Mag- 
gie Branson,  No.  16  North  Eutaw  Street. 
She  is  a  noted  Rebel. 

I  was  promised  evidence  to  prove  that  he 

255 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

had  been  in  Baltimore  before,  but  the  wit- 
nesses are  not  forthcoming,  and  I  beheve  him 
innocent  of  that  charge,  but  I  think  it  would 
be  well  to  remove  him  from  that  family.  I 
would  respectfully  recommend  his  release. 
Very  respy.  your  obdt.  servt., 

H.  B.  Smith, 
Lt.  &  Chief. 

When  I  entered  my  office  on  Friday  morning, 
March  lo,  1865,  Captain  Webb,  my  clerk,  was  try- 
ing to  obtain  from  Paine  some  part  of  his  pedigree, 
but  was  baffled  by  the  prisoner's  dumbness.  Then 
I  tried  with  the  result  as  follows : 

Baltimore,  Md., 
March    10,    1865. 

Lewis  Paine,  refugee  from  Fauquier 
County,  Virginia.,  my  parents  reside  near 
Orleans,  in  that  County.  I  am  eighteen  and  a 
half  years  old.  I  have  not  been  out  of  \^ir- 
ginia  since  the  war  commenced,  until  this  time. 

I  was  never  in  the  Rebel  army.  Mosby  used 
to  stay  at  the  house  of  Joe  Blackwell,  until 
his  house  was  burned. 

Willie  Tung,  of  Warrenton. 

Daniel  Moffit,  of  Fauquier  County,  mem- 
bers of  Mosby's  command. 

Miss  Maggie  Branson,  with  whom  I  was 
stopping,  is  related  to  me  by  marriage. 

I  bought  the  coat  and  vest  of  grey  cloth  in 
256 


i 


LEWIS    PAINE. 


PAINE,   ASSASSIN 

this  city,  since  I  came  here;  my  pants  of  grey 
1  bought  in  Washington. 

I  don't  remember  of  hearing  any  disloyal  re- 
marks from  any  of  the  boarders  at  the  house 
No.  i6  North  Eutaw  Street.  I  whipped  a 
colored  woman  at  that  house  on  Monday  last, 
because  she  insulted  me ;  her  name  is  Annie. 
(Signed)    L.  Paine. 

Sworn  and  subscribed  to,  before  me, 
this  loth  day  of  March,  1865. 

H.  B.  Smith, 
Lt.  &  Chief. 

Paine  was  a  sullen,  dumb  looking,  overgrown 
young  person.  To  get  anything  out  of  him  I  alter- 
nately prodded  and  fondled ;  he  was  a  cross  be- 
tween a  big  booby  and  a  sullen  animal. 

His  statement  is  disjointed.  Between  the  joints 
you  must  imagine  my  questions,  eliciting  his  words ; 
for  instance,  "I  am  eighteen  and  a  half  years  old," 
was  in  reply  to  my  query  about  his  pretensions  to 
never  having  been  in  the  army.  To  my  remarks 
about  his  new  grey  clothes,  certainly  pointing  their 
use,  where  grey  was  worn,  he  tried  to  explain  his 
innocence,  etc,  etc. 

While  in  the  midst  of  his  examination,  Miss 
Bronson,  accompanied  by  a  Mr.  Shriver,  came  in. 
Miss  Bronson  pressed  right  up  to  my  desk,  enquir- 
ing what  charge  was  against  Mr.  Paine.     She  said 

257 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

he  was  her  cousin,  and  that  she  knew  he  had  never 
been  north  before,  etc. 

I  informed  her  that  her  word  on  such  matters 
was  not  valuable,  since  I  had  her  history  for  dis- 
loyalty in  my  cabinet.  I  said  to  Mr.  Shriver,  whom 
I  knew  to  be  reckoned  as  a  loyal  man,  that  he  should 
not  have  lent  his  presence. 

I  was  not  in  good  humor  because  persons  who 
had  promised  to  testify  that  Paine  had  been  in  Bal- 
timore before  had  failed  to  respond.  I  felt  in  my 
bones  he  was  a  spy,  but  could  not  prove  it,  and 
therefore  could  not  hold  him,  hence  my  recommen- 
dation for  his  release.  Finally,  on  the  12th,  he 
took  the  oath  of  allegiance,  before  me,  and  I  par- 
oled him,  inserting  in  the  parole,  "to  go  north  of 
Philadelphia  and  remain  during  the  war." 

After  the  assassination,  this  paper  was  found 
on  Paine,  but  he  had  obliterated  the  restriction  "to 
go  north  of  Philadelphia,"  etc. 

I  took  from  him  his  pass  and  parole,  issued  at 
Alexandria,  Virginia,  January  13th,  1865.  In  it 
he  was  described  as  of  dark  complexion,  black  hair, 
blue  eyes,  height  six  feet  one  and  a  half  inches. 

I  will  now  leave  Paine  until  after  the  assassina- 
tion, which  was  just  one  month  later,  April  14th, 
1865. 

I  presume  my  order  to  go  to  New  York  (follow- 
ing) may  have  hastened  my  disposition  of  Paine. 


258 


FILE    XXXVII. 

Missionary  E.  Martin,  an  agent  of  the  Confederate 
treasury  department,  arrested,  his  big  tobacco 
smuggling  scheme  exposed — Kidnapped  him  from 
General  Dix's  department — Manahan  involved. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 
Baltimore,  Mch.   12,  1865. 
Special  Order  No.  44. 

Lieut.  H.  B.  Smith,  5th  N.  Y.  Arty.,  and 
Commanding  Detective  Corps,  8th  Army 
Corps,  with  one  man  of  his  force,  will  proceed 
to  New  York  City,  arrest  a  certain  man,  and 
return  to  these  headquarters  without  delay, 
with  his  assistant  and  prisoner. 

Quartermaster's  Department  will  furnish 
transportation. 

By  command  of  Bvt.  Brigadier  General  W. 
W.  Morris. 

Wm.  H.  Wiegel, 
Major  &  Actg.  Provost  Marshal. 

The  cause  for  this  trip  will  be  explained  by  the 
following  copy  of  a  letter,  and  a  contract. 

259 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

New  York,  Mch.  lo,  1865. 
Dear  Manahan : 

It  is  said  Fredericksburg  and  tobacco  is 
captured.     I  feared  this. 

Have  written  to  Maddox  and  sent  him  a 
copy  of  contract.     I  enclose  yours. 

Now  it  is  for  you  to  go  to  work  at  once 
and  see  that  this  property  is  taken  care  of.  I 
beheve  you  will  both  do  it ;  see  to  it  that  no 
innocent  parties  suffer.  Act  promptly,  for  I 
assured  my  friends  that  the  property  was  safe 
at  that  point,  and  I  did  it  on  your  representa- 
tions. Let  me  hear  from  you,  care  of  Burnett 
&  Funkhouser,  this  city. 

Yours  truly,     M.  E.  Martin. 

Baltimore,  Md., 
Dec.  8th,  1864. 
I  hereby  agree  to  deliver  to  Mess.  Maddox 
&  Manahan,  during  the  month  of  Feby.  and 
March,  1865,  at  Fredericksburg,  Virginia,  on 
the  Rappahannock  River,  Four  Thousand 
Boxes  (4,000)  of  good  sound  merchantable 
tobacco,  to  be  paid  for  on  delivery,  by  my 
Agents  at  said  point,  in  United  States  cur- 
rency, at  the  rate  of  Forty-seven  and  a  half 
(47 >^)  Cents  per  pound. 

Said  tobacco  to  be  of  the  quality  known  as 
good  manufactured  Virginia  Leaf.  I  reserve 
to  myself  the  privilege  of  increasing  the  quan- 
tity to  5,000  boxes,  if  I  see  proper. 

(Signed)    M.  E.  Martin. 
260 


MISSIONARY  E.  MARTIN 

Manahan  was  of  the  firm  of  J.  F.  Manahan  &  Co., 
No.  17  South  Charles  Street,  Baltimore,  Md,  This 
letter,  by  mistake,  fell  into  my  hands  on  March 
1 2th.  It  was  necessary  to  act  quickly  in  order  to 
intercept  communication  twixt  Martin  and  Mana- 
han, and  for  that  purpose  I  left  Baltimore  on  the 
I2th,  and  had  my  man  wire  to  Martin,  as  follows: 

Baltimore,  Md.,  Mch.  13,  1865. 
M.  E.  Martin, 

c/o  Burnett  &  Funkhouser, 
New  York. 
"Your  letter  here.     Shaffer,  my  friend,  will 
call  to-day.     Let  me  know  the  result  by  tele- 
graph immediately." 

Manahan, 

Maltby  House. 

I  assumed  that  if  Martin  wanted  to  reach  Mana- 
han, he  would  address  him  at  the  Maltby  House, 
the  telegraph  office  there  was  in  my  possession. 

I  at  the  same  time  had  myself  wired  to  as  fol- 
lows : 

Baltimore,  Md.,  Mch.  13,  1865. 
I.  K.  Shaffer, 

Merchants  Hotel, 
New  York. 
"Call  on   Martin   immediately,   I   have  his 
letter  of  loth. 

Manahan, 
Maltby  House. 
261 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

This  wire  was  to  be  my  introduction  to  Martin. 
I  located  Martin  and  Burnett  &  Funkhouser  in 
Broad  Street  near  Beaver.  I  did  not  call  on  him 
immediately,  as  I  wanted  him  to  get  anxious  to 
see  me  first. 

To  keep  him  quiet  on  Maddox,  I  had  him  wired 
as  follows : 

Washington,  D.  C, 
Mch.  14,  1865. 
M.  E.  Martin, 

c/o  Burnett  &  Funkhouser, 
New  York. 
"M.  leaves  here  to-night,  you  can  rest  fully 
satisfied  all  is  right." 

J.  F.  Manahan, 
Willards  Hotel. 

Poor  Manahan  was  asleep  to  all  this  use  of  his 
name,  of  course.  Martin  did  get  anxious.  He 
wrote  me  the  following  note  and  sent  it  to  Mer- 
chant's Hotel : 

Mr.  Shafifer: 

Dear  Sir. — Have  despatch  from  Manahan 
that  you  will  call  and  see  me  here.  Will  be 
in  at  half  past  eleven  to  twelve,  half  past 
twelve  to  one,  and  at  half  past  one. 

Either  wait  for  me  or  leave  your  address. 
Yours,  &c., 

M.  E.  Martin. 
262 


CONFEDERATE  TREASURY  AGENT 

I  called  but  failed  to  find  Martin,  and  later  I  re- 
ceived the  following  from  him : 

Mr.  Shaffer: 

I  waited  for  you  all  the  early  part  of  the 
day,  at  B  &  F's,  and  then  left  a  note  for  you, 
requesting  you  to  leave   your  address. 

Am  unwell ;  if  it  is  important  you  should 
see  me  before  morning,  please  come  up  to  my 
hotel,  Gramercy  Park  House,  if  not,  please 
meet  me  at  B  &  F's,  nine  to  nine  thirty,  to- 
morrow morning. 

Yours  truly, 

Martin. 

I  met  him  in  the  morning,  as  appointed.  He  was 
hungry  to  meet  me,  just  as  I  wanted  it. 

I  found  Mr.  Martin  to  be  a  man  evidently  well 
fitted  for  the  job,  in  appearance  tall,  rather  lank, 
energetic  and  gentlemanly.  We  visited  off  and  on, 
nearly  all  day.  He  believed,  from  what  I  told 
him,  that  I  and  my  friends  were  financially  inter- 
ested through  Manahan.  He  explained  his  position 
as  representing  Mr.  Trenholm,  Secretary  of  the 
Confederate  Treasury.  He  told  how  he  had  form- 
erly run  cotton  through  the  lines  on  the  Mississippi 
river. 

Now  that  the  tobacco  had  been  seized,  his  plan 
was  to  press  a  claim  upon  our  government,  repre- 
senting the  tobacco  to  belong  to  Union  people.  He 
263 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

told  me  he  had  papers  at  his  hotel  which  would 
corroborate  him. 

In  the  afternoon,  nearly  dark,  we  parted  in  the 
Howard  House  (then  at  the  corner  of  Maiden  Lane 
and  Broadway)  with  the  understanding  that  I  was 
returning  to  Baltimore  and  Manahan,  satisfied 
with  his  assurances. 

My  man  (Mr.  Kraft),  who  had  been  following 
me,  to  be  handy  if  help  was  needed,  and  who  had 
been  watching  for  the  signal  to  make  the  arrest, 
came  to  me  hastily,  thinking  he  might  have  missed 
the  signal,  but  I  assured  him  it  was  all  right  to 
let  Martin  go.  I  had  a  further  purpose,  I  wanted 
to  get  the  documents  Martin  had  spoken  of  as 
being  at  his  hotel. 

Kraft  and  I  dined  at  the  old  Lovejoy  Hotel  (then 
at  the  corner  of  Beekman  Street  and  Park  Row) 
and  afterwards  went  up  to  the  Gramercy  Park 
Hotel,  then  quite  a  fashionable  hostelry.  We  waited 
until  Martin  came  out  of  the  dining-room.  He  was 
in  his  dinner  suit,  and  was  quite  a  dude  for  sucli 
a  raw-boned  Southerner;  he  was  surprised  to  see 
me  again.  I  told  him  I  wanted  some  further  talk. 
I  asked  if  we  could  not  go  to  his  room.  After 
starting  for  up  stairs  I  introduced  my  friend. 

When  in  his  room  I  informed  him  that  my  sole 

object  was  to  obtain  the  information  needed  by  the 

Government.     Any  man's   face  would  be  a  study 

under  such  circumstances.     Martin  was  game;  his 

264 


GREAT  TOBACCO  CASE 

first  question  was:  "Well,  what  is  your  name?" 
"Smith,"  1  replied.  "Oh,  I  mean  your  right  name," 
he  said.  (There  are  some  advantages  in  the  name 
Smith,  I  really  needed  no  alias.) 

Martin  thought  a  treat  was  "on  him,"  and  he 
paid  it.  I  then  invited  him  to  show  me  the  docu- 
ments he  had  described  when  down  town.  I  took 
possession  of  all.  They  gave  a  very  good  history 
of  his  doings  on  the  Mississippi  river,  and  his  con- 
nection with  the  Confederate  Treasury  Department. 

In  answer  to  his  question,  I  told  him  that  I  did 
not  know  what  the  government  would  do  with  him, 
but  I  was  sure  his  proposed  claim  against  the  gov- 
ernment would  not  be  collectible,  and  perhaps  he 
would  be  detained  until  the  end  of  the  war,  to  pre- 
vent a  recurrence. 

Pending  my  first  call  on  Martin,  I  visted  General 
Dix,  commanding  the  Department  of  the  East.  He 
declined  to  endorse  my  order  to  make  the  arrest  of 
Martin,  unless  I  explained  fully  the  case.  Rather 
than  do  so,  just  at  that  time,  I  concluded  to  disre- 
gard courtesy  and  take  my  man  away  without  his 
endorsement,  which  I  did. 

The  "Gold  Room"  which  was  then  more  import- 
ant than  the  Stock  Exchange,  was  in  Twenty-fourth 
Street,  back  of  the  Fifth  Avenue  Hotel ;  it  was  open 
evenings.  I  permitted  Martin  to  send  there  for 
money,  and  to  advise  his  friends  that  he  would 
be  away  for  a  few  days. 
265 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

During  the  evening  Mr.  Martin  said  to  me '. 
"Last  evening,  when  I  was  expecting  you,  waiting 
for  you,  I  lay  here  reading  Colonel  Baker's  book  on 
the  Secret  Service.  He  had  no  case  as  slick  as  this. 
Smith,  you  were  so  frank  and  open,  I  would  have 
told  you  anything  you  wanted  to  know." 

I  presume  he  was  reading  Baker's  book  to  see 
how  such  cases  as  his  were  treated,  not  dreaming 
of  an  ocular  demonstration  so  near  at  hand.  At 
midnight  we  started  for  Baltimore. 

The  following  from  the  Richmond  "Whig"  ex- 
plains better,  perhaps,  than  I  can,  just  what  Mar- 
tin and  the  case  meant,  from  the  Confederate  view- 
point : 

(From  the  Richmond  "Whig") 

The  Tobacco  Transaction — A  Prominent  New 
York   House  Concerned. 

"We  have  obtained  the  main  facts  of  the 
great  tobacco  speculation,  in  reference  to 
which  there  were  so  many  rumors  last  week. 
It  appears  that  an  agent  of  a  New  York  mer- 
cantile house,  whose  name  it  is  deemed  inex- 
pedient to  publish  at  this  time,  proposed  to 
certain  parties  in  this  city  to  contract  with 
them  for  the  delivery  of  a  specific  quantity  of 
manufactured  tobacco  at  Fredericksburg,  he 
undertaking  for  his  principals  to  remove  the 
tobacco  from  that  point,  with  the  implied  con- 
266 


GREAT  TOBACCO   CASE 

sent  of  the  United  States  authorities,  provided 
the  Confederate  authorities  would  indicate 
their  consent,  in  writing,  to  the  proposed 
transaction.  The  tobacco  was  to  be  paid  for 
on  its  deHvery  at  Fredericksburg.  The  New 
York  house  was  vouched  for  by  an  influential 
member  of  Congress,  who  had  intimate  busi- 
ness relations  with  the  concern. 

One  of  the  Confederate  bureaus  became 
identified  with  the  scheme,  by  reason  of  the 
representations  which  had  been  made  to  its 
officers,  and  by  the  prospect  of  advantageous 
results  from  the  fulfillment  of  the  proposed 
agreement  by  the  parties  on  the  other  side. 

The  contract  was  accordingly  entered  into, 
"sealed,  signed  and  delivered,"  with  a  satis- 
factory endorsement  from  the  predecessor  of 
the  present  Secretary  of  War,  who  was  no 
doubt  induced  to  believe  that  it  was  "all 
right."  Nothing  was  said  in  the  contract 
about  bacon.     The  quid  pro  quo  was  money. 

In  execution  of  the  contract  on  this  side, 
about  four  thousand  boxes  of  fine  to  extra 
manufactured  tobacco  were  purchased  here, 
at  rates  ranging  from  four  dollars  to  seven 
dollars  per  pound.  Confederate  currency.  Of 
this  amount  one  thousand  two  hundred  and 
seventy-three  boxes,  weighing  one  hundred 
and  thirty-two  thousand  five  hundred  and 
seventy-eight  pounds,  and  valued  at  seven 
hundred  thousand  dollars,  were  forwarded  to 
267 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

Fredericksburg  in  charge  of  Dr.  Rose,  who 
was  induced  by  assurances  from  Richmond, 
which  he  could  not  discredit,  to  act  as  con- 
signee and  custodian  of  the  tobacco  until  de- 
livered according  to  agreement.  He  was  not 
in  any  sense,  as  we  understand,  a  party  to  the 
contract.  What  became  of  the  tobacco  is 
known  to  our  readers.  Dr.  Rose  was  carried 
off  by  the  Yankees  for  engaging  in  contra- 
band traffic. 

The  name  of  General  Singleton  has  been 
connected  with  this  transaction.  We  state  on 
the  authority  of  an  officer  of  the  bureau  re- 
ferred to  that  he  has  no  lot  nor  part  in  it,  di- 
rectly or  indirectly.  The  loss  of  the  tobacco 
will  fall  upon  the  contractors  here  unless  the 
New  York  parties  to  the  contract  will  fulfill 
their  obligations  by  indemnifying  the  bureau 
with  which  they  contracted. 

After  action  by  Congress,  President  Lincoln  en- 
deavored to  extend  some  relief  to  persons  within 
the  Confederacy  who  were  Unionists  at  heart ;  they 
were  to  be  encouraged  by  allowing  them  to  work 
their  products  up  to  and  through  the  lines.  What 
was  intended  as  a  great  beneficent  proposition  was 
seized  upon  by  the  Confederate  government  to  help 
itself  financially. 

The  following  order  will  explain  the  experiences 
with  cotton  on  the  Mississippi  river.  I  presume 
268 


KIDNAPPED 

these  orders  drove  Martin  to  turn  his  attention  to 
tobacco  in  the  east : 

Headquarters,  Major  General  Washburn, 
District  West  Tennessee. 

Memphis,  May  lo,  1864. 
"The  practical  operation  of  commercial  in- 
tercourse from  this  city  with  the  States  in  re- 
bellion,  has  been   to  help    largely    to    feed, 
clothe,  arm  and  equip  our  enemies." 
******** 

"To  take  cotton,  belonging  to  the  Rebel 
Government  to  Memphis,  and  convert  it  into 
supplies  and  green-backs,  and  return  to  the 
lines  of  the  enemy,  or  place  the  proceeds 
to  the  credit  of  the  Rebel  Government,  in 
Europe,  is  safe  and  easy. 

"I  have  undoubted  evidence  that  large 
amounts  of  cotton  have  been  and  are  being 
brought  here  to  be  sold,  belonging  to  the 
Rebel  Government." 


"It  is  therefore  ordered,  that  on  and  after 
the  15th  of  May,  1864,  the  lines  of  the  Army 
at  Memphis  be  closed  and  no  person  be  per- 
mitted to  leave  the  city,  except  by  river,  with- 
out a  special  pass." 
"By  order  of 

Major  General  C.  C.  Washburn." 
269 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

A  similar  order  was  issued  by  Colonel  Farrar, 
at  Natchez,  Miss.,  and  by  General  Sherman  at 
Vicksburg,  in  which  they  said : 

"The  amount  of  trade  through  the  lines  at 
all  these  points,  with  the  isolated  localities, 
where  trade  stores  were  situated,  was  esti- 
mated at  not  less  than  a  half  million  dollars, 
daily." 

On  the  6th  of  March,  1864,  General  Roberts, 
with  one  thousand  five  hundred  men,  and  with  naval 
help,  left  Fortress  Monroe  for  Fredericksburg.  He 
captured  and  destroyed  three  hundred  and  eighty 
thousand  dollars  worth  of  tobacco. 

Martin  was  the  representative  of  the  Confeder- 
ate Treasury  Department.  I  recovered  his  cor- 
respondence with  Secretary  Trenholm.  It  was 
understood  that  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  this 
tobacco  was  to  go  to  Paris  to  help  pay  Confeder- 
ate debts  incurred  there. 


270 


FILE   XXXVIII. 

Secretary  of  War  consulted  about  the  extension  of  our 
territory  to  include  the  district  between  the  Rap- 
pahannock and  the  Potomac  rivers — Robert  Lou- 
dan,  alias  Charles  Veal,  a  boat  burner  and  spy— 
A  kidnapped  colored  boy. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 
Baltimore,  Mch.  i8,  1865. 
Lieut.  Smith : 

I  want  to  see  you  at  the  office  this  evening 
at  7.30. 

The  Secretary  of  War  wants  to  see  you  in 
Washington,  and  you  will  have  to  go  to-mor- 
row morning. 

Yours,  &c., 

S.  B.  Lawrence, 
A.  Adjutant  General. 

I  do  not  remember  what  the  Secretary  wanted, 
but  as  the  following  order  issued  the  next  day,  I 
assume  it  was  to  learn  more  of  my  purpose  in  the 
extended  territory  asked  for  : 
271 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

War  Department, 
Washington,  D.  C, 

Mch.  20,  1865. 
Major  W.  H.  Wiegel: 

Provost  Marshal  at  Baltimore  is  authorized 
to  extend  his  operations  into  the  region  be- 
tween the  Potomac  and  Rappahannock  Rivers, 
known  as  the  northern  neck  of  Virginia. 
(Signed)    C.  A.  Dana, 
Asst.  Secretary  of  War. 

Headquarters,  Department  of  Missouri, 
Office  of  Provost  Marshal  General, 

St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Mch.  21,  1865. 
Provost  Marshal  General, 
Middle  Department, 
Baltimore,  Md. 
Sir. — In  October  last,  the  Military  Prisons 
of  this  city  being  in  danger  from  the   Rebel 
forces  under  Major  General  Sterling  Price,  it 
was   deemed   prudent  by   General   Rosecrans, 
then  in  command  of  this  Department,  to  trans- 
fer the  occupants  to  the  Alton  Prison.    While 
this  transfer  was  in  progress,  one  of  the  pris- 
oners,  Robert   Loudan,    alias    Oiarles    Veal, 
made  his  escape  from  the  guards  by  cutting 
his  irons  and  jumping  from  the  boat  into  the 
river.     He  was  then  under  sentence  of  death, 
for  being  a  spy  and  a  boat  burner. 

Loudan  was  lately  heard  from  at  New  Or- 
leans, where  it  was  reported  he  was  in  the 
272 


TERRITORY  EXTENDED 

custody  of  the  Military  authorities,  by  whom 
he  was  subsequently  released  for  the  want  of 
sufficient  evidence  to  hold  him. 

It  is  possible  he  has  gone  beyond  our  lines, 
but,  if  not,  he  would  be  likely  to  make  for 
some  of  the  large  cities  of  the  loyal  States. 

Loudan  is  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  where 
his  wife  now  resides  ;  height,  about  five  feet 
eight  inches ;  complexion,  fair ;  large  blue  eyes 
constantly  rolling  and  displaying  a  great  deal 
of  white ;  hair  and  whiskers,  fair ;  square 
shoulders ;  usually  wears  a  false  moustache ; 
wears  his  hat  on  the  back  of  his  head. 

This  office  is  charged  with  his  execution, 
and  will  incur  any  amount  of  trouble  to  re- 
capture him.  If  he  is  found  within  the  limits 
of  your  jurisdiction,  please  secure  and  for- 
ward him  to  me  or  notify  me  of  his  arrest  and 
I  will  send  for  him. 

Very  respectfully. 

Your  obdt.  servt., 

J.  H.  Baker, 
Col.  &  Provost  Marshal. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 
Baltimore,   Mch.   31,   186*5. 
Special  Order  No.  55. 

Lieut.  H.  B.  Smith,  5th  N.  Y.  H.  Arty., 
Commanding  Detective  Corps,  Middle  Depart- 
ment, 8th  Army  Corps,  will  proceed  to  Wash- 

273 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

ington,  D.  C,  for  the  recovery  of  a  colored 
boy,  kidnapped  from  Norfolk,  Virginia,  and 
will  report  to  the  Provost  Marshal  of  Wash- 
ington, for  any  assistance  he  may  require. 

By  command  of  Bvt.  Brigadier  General  W. 
W.  Morris. 

Wm.  H.  Wiegel, 
Major  &  Actg.  Provost  Marshal. 


274 


FILE   XXXIX. 

The  chase  after  the  steamer  "Harriet  Deford,"  which 
was  captured  by  pirates,  supposedly  to  supply  a 
means  of  escape  to  Jefferson  Davis  from  the  crum- 
bling Confederacy— Captain  Fitzhugh. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 

8th  Army  Corps. 

Baltimore,  Apl.  5,  1865. 
Major: 

I  have  written  to  Commodore  Dornin  re- 
questing him  to  send  a  small  steamer  in  pur- 
suit of  the  "Harriet  Deford,"  if  he  has  one 
ready,  and  to  permit  Lieut.  Smith  and  his 
guard  to  accompany  her. 

If  Commodore  Dornin  can  not  send  a 
steamer  I  have  written  to  Colonel  Newport, 
to  request  him  to  place  a  tug  at  your  dis- 
posal. 

You  will  please  see  that  Smith  goes  in  Com- 
mand with  sufficient  guard  and  ammunition. 
If  you  want  a  Howitzer,  send  to  C.  O.  Fort 
McHenry,  or  let  the  steamer  stop  there  and 
get  it. 

Very  respy.  your  obdt.  servt., 

Samuel  B.  Lawrence, 
To  A.  Adjutant  General. 

Major  Wiegel. 

275 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

Commandant's  Office. 

Naval  Station, 
Baltimore,  Apl.  5,  1865. 
Colonel : 

I  regret  that  I  have  no  steamer  in  the 
proper  condition  to  start  off ;  if  we  had  it 
would  be  furnished  promptly. 

Very  respy.  your  obdt.  servt., 

Thos.  a.  Dornin, 
To  Commodore. 

Col.  Sam'l  B.  Lawrence, 
A.  Adjutant  General, 
Middle  Department. 

A  report  had  reached  us  that  the  steamer  "Har- 
riet Deford,"  plying  between  the  Patuxent  river 
and  Bahimore,  had  been  captured  by  a  gang  of 
pirates,  in  Fair  Haven  bay,  which  is  midway  be- 
tween the  Patuxent  river  and  the  Severn  river ;  the 
passengers  were  robbed  and  put  ashore. 

Richmond  had  fallen ;  Jefferson  Davis  was  seek- 
ing to  escape,  and  the  theory,  quickly  arrived  at. 
was  that  this  steamer  had  been  seized  to  furnish 
the  means,  perhaps,  to  run  him  to  the  Bahamas, 
or  Bermuda. 

The  bay  and  its  tributaries  were  alive  with  anx- 
iety. In  a  very  short  time  I  was  away  in  a  tug. 
I  put  the  guards  below  decks,  in  the  coal-hole, 
where  they  were  nearly  smothered,  until  night  came 
on. 

276 


PIRATES   CAPTURE   "HARRIET  DEFORD" 

Early  in  the  evening  we  arrived  at  the  mouth  of 
Fair  Haven  bay.  Our  pilot  did  not  know  the  har- 
bor, but  soon  discovered  he  could  not  run  his 
boat  on  the  mere  appearance  of  water.  He  ran  us 
onto  a  bar,  where  we  thumped  and  thumped,  backed 
and  poled  off,  and  then  ran  onto  another.  We 
finally  concluded  to  back  off,  go  back  to  the  Severn 
river  and  Annapolis,  and  wait  for  daylight. 

When  we  arrived  in  the  Severn,  we  found  the 
shore  and  water  full  of  alertness.  We  were  hailed 
and  threatened  until  our  character  was  understood. 
To  my  delight  I  found  there  a  large  steamer,  with 
two  hundred  men  on,  that  Colonel  Lawrence  had 
sent  down  to  support  me.  A  landlubber  feels  bet- 
ter on  a  larger  vessel,  so  I  took  my  men  on  the 
steamer,  and  we  started  again  for  Fair  Haven.  We 
arrived  there  early  in  the  morning. 

My  theory  was  that  I  could  pick  up  some  clue 
there  to  follow  ap,  and  events  sustained  me.  I 
sauntered  up  from  the  dock  towards  a  store.  I 
met  two  men,  and  to  my  question,  one  of  the  men 
admitted  he  was  pressed  into  service  by  the  gang 
in  the  mouth  of  the  Patuxent.  He  said  the  party 
had  crossed  the  Potomac  in  a  small  sail  boat,  and 
compelled  him  to  pilot  them,  to  overhaul  the  "Har- 
riet Deford."  He  said  they  steamed  down  the  bay, 
after  leaving  Fair  Haven.  We  held  him,  and  at 
once  ran  on  down  the  Chesapeake,  to  the  mouth  of 
the  Potomac.  We  were  then  in  Commodore  Par- 
277 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

ker's  territory,  which  he  was  covering  clear  across 
the  bay  with  gunboats.  Our  duty  was  done,  and 
we  returned  to  Baltimore. 

I  learned  afterwards  that  they  ran  the  "Deford" 
into  Mobjack  bay,  where  she  was  burned,  after  first 
stripping  her  joiner  work.  I  visited,  and  afterwards 
married,  Aunt  Mag,  in  the  region  of  Mobjack  bay, 
but  never  referred  to  the  incident.  I  thought  it 
might  not  bring  up  pleasant  recollections.  I  have 
often  wondered  if  some  of  the  "Deford's"  saloon 
trimmings  might  be  in  use  in  some  of  the  houses 
there.     Let  us  forget  it. 

The  following  account  of  the  affair  appeared  in 
the  New  York  papers  under  date  April  6th,  1865, 
with  big  headline :  "Another  Pirate !" 

"Baltimore,  April  5th,  1865.  A  daring  act 
of  piracy  was  perpetrated  at  Fair  Haven, 
Herring  Bay,  about  fifty  miles  from  this  city, 
the  Steamer  Harriet  Deford  being  seized  by 
a  company  of  Rebel  soldiers  in  disguise.  The 
Deford  had  scarcely  left  Fair  Haven  Wharf 
before  a  dozen  or  more  of  newly  received  pas- 
sengers threw  off  their  overcoats  and  draw- 
ing revolvers  revealed  to  the  astonished  gaze 
of  the  passengers  the  uniforms  of  Rebel  sol- 
diers. 

The  passengers,  about  seventy  in  number, 
thirty  being  ladies,  were  ordered  to  the  saloon 
and  guards  placed  over  them  while  the  bal- 
278 


PIRATES   CAPTURE  "HARRIET  DEFORD' 

ance  of  the  pirates  proceeded  to  take  com- 
mand of  the  Steamer.  Captain  and  officers 
were  forced  into  obedience  at  the  muzzle 
of  the  pirates'  revolvers.  One  of  the  pirates 
assumed  control  of  the  wheel,  the  Pilot  and 
Engineer  being  compelled  to  proceed  to  sea. 
Mr.  A.  Donnell,  clerk  of  the  Deford,  believ- 
ing that  he  had  met  the  leader  of  the  out- 
laws on  a  former  occasion,  accosted  him  as 
Captain  Fitzhugh,  when  the  latter  acknowl- 
edged the  recognition  and  said  he  was  Cap- 
tain of  the  Fifth  Virginia  Cavalry  and  acting 
under  orders  of  superior  officers.  Under  the 
persuasive  eloquence  of  a  revolver  the  clerk 
handed  over  to  the  pirates  nearly  twelve  hun- 
dred dollars  belonging  to  the  owners  of  the 
Steamer  and  different  firms  in  this  City; 
which  Fitzhugh  carefully  robbed. 

When  about  a  mile  from  Fair  Haven,  Fitz- 
hugh compelled  the  Engineer  to  sound  the  ' 
steam  whistle  three  times,  in  answer  to  which 
signal  three  boats  containing  thirty-two  men 
put  off  from  each  side  of  the  river  and  stood 
for  the  Steamer.  The  crews  of  these  boats 
having  been  taken  aboard,  the  Steamer  was 
headed  down  Chesapeake  Bay.  On  the  way 
down  Captain  Leage,  Captain  Dayton,  officer 
in  charge  of  the  Steamer  and  several  old  gen- 
tlemen with  ladies  and  children,  were  placed 
on  board  of  the  Schooner  Hiawatha,  bound 
for  this  city.  The  balance  of  male  passengers, 
279 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

Engineer,  Fireman,  and  twenty  colored  freed- 
men  were  retained  as  prisoners. 

The  Deford  was  valued  at  fifty  thousand 
dollars  and  had  a  cargo  of  tobacco,  potatoes, 
grain,  furs.  &c.,  valued  at  eighty  thousand  dol- 
lars. Fitzhugh  would  not  permit  his  men  to 
rob  passengers. 

The  captured  Steamer  is  a  fast  sailer,  hav- 
ing repeatedly  made  fourteen  knots  per  hour. 
The  intention  of  the  pirates  could  not  be 
learned,  but  it  is  supposed  they  will  endeavor 
to  run  outside  the  Capes,  transfer  the  cargo  to 
a  larger  vessel,  burn  the  Deford,  and  proceed 
to  Nassau. 

The  paroled  passengers  arrived  here  this 
morning.  One  of  them  positively  asserts  that 
Jeflf.  Davis  was  among  the  party  who  came 
out  in  small  boats,  but  no  reliance  wdiatever 
can  be  placed  in  the  possibility  of  Jefif.  hav- 
ing thus  escaped  from  Richmond.  The  re- 
ceipt of  this  news  caused  great  excitement 
here,  and  measures  looking  to  the  defence  of 
the  Bay  boats  are  being  made. 

A  steamer  has  also  been  despatched  to  in- 
tercept the  pirates  before  they  reach  the 
Capes." 


280 


FILE   XL. 

Ordered  to  Northern  Neck  of  Virginia  the  day  before 
President  Lincoln's  assassination — Martin  Van 
Buren  Morgan's  statement,  and  order  for  his  dis- 
posal. 

At  this  time  in  1865  General  Lee  was  about  sur- 
rendering. All  the  people,  North  and  South,  were 
rejoicing  at  the  prospect  of  peace,  excepting  those 
bitter,  poisoned-with-their-own-venom  conspirators 
hid  away  in  dark  corners,  who  were  rehearsing  for 
the  closing  scene. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 

Baltimore,  Apl.  13,  1865. 
Special  Order  No.  61. 

I  St  Lieut.  H.  B.  Smith,  in  accordance  with 
instructions  received  from  the  Hon.  Secretary 
of  War,  will  proceed  to  that  part  of  Virginia 
known  as  the  Northern  Neck,  with  two  of  his 
men,  and  prisoner,  M.  V.  B.  Morgan,  for  the 
purpose  of  arresting  certain  outlaws  in  that 
part  of  Virginia. 

281 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

Military  and  Naval  commanders  will  please 
give  all  assistance  required. 

By  command  of  Bvt.  Brigadier  General  W, 
W.  Morris. 

Wm.  H.  Wiegel, 
Major  &  Actg.  Provost  Marshal. 

This  was  to  be  my  first  opportunity  to  set  foot 
in  the  district  I  had  been  seeking  to.  I  had  intended 
to  capture  in  detail  every  known  blockade-runner, 
and  lock  them  up  until  the  end  of  the  war,  but 
now  that  the  war  was  practically  over,  my  pur- 
pose was  to  capture  the  contraband  goods  to  be 
found  hidden  in  hay  stacks,  barns,  etc. 

Martin  VanBuren  Morgan  had  been  with  these 
blockade-runners,  and  had  himself  been  somewhat 
in  their  ways,  so  I  had  become  satisfied  he  would 
serve  me,  for  pay.  An  order  was  placed  in  my 
hands,  to  be  used  under  certain  conditions.  If  he 
proved  loyal  and  valuable,  it  was  not  to  be  used.  If 
he  was  not  valuable,  I  could  use  it  and  send  him 
north.  If  he  proved  disloyal,  I  had  verbal  instruc- 
tions to  use  my  own  judgment  as  to  his  disposal. 
This  was  the  order : 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 

Baltimore,  Apl.  13,  1865. 
Special  Order  No.  61. 

2. — M.  V.  B.  Morgan,  citizen  prisoner,  is 
hereby  ordered  to  proceed  north  of  Philadel- 
282 


ORDERED  TO  NORTHERN  NECK 

phia,  Pa.,  and  remain  during  the  war,  pro- 
vided he  takes  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the 
United  States  Government. 

By  command  of  Bvt.  Brigadier  General  W. 
W.  Morris. 

Wm.  H.  Wiegel, 
Major  &  Actg.  Provost  Marshal. 

Morgan's  Statement. 

"My  name  is  Martin  VanBuren  Morgan.  I 
was  born  in  Palmyra,  New  York  State.  My 
father  was  named  Irvin  Morgan,  my  brother 
is  named  Francis  Morgan.  My  father  one 
year  ago  was  in  Nashville,  Tenn.  I  was  so 
young  I  can  not  remember  when  I  lived  in 
Palmyra ;  as  far  back  as  I  can  recollect  I  was 
in  Oswego.  When  three  years  old  we  moved 
to  Cleveland,  Ohio.  When  about  sixteen  I 
moved  to  Wheeling  with  my  mother.  From 
Wheeling  I  ran  on  the  river  from  Cincinnati 
to  Pittsburg. 

"In  November,  i860,  I  was  in  Cleveland, 
Ohio.  I  voted  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  From 
Cleveland  I  went  to  Cincinnati,  to  Pittsburg, 
and  then  to  Queen's  County,  Virginia,  in 
January,  1861. 

"On  March  4th,  1861,  I  was  still  in  Queen's 
County,  \^irginia.  I  did  not  vote  in  Virginia. 
Mr.  Thompson  took  me  to  Virginia.  I  never 
belonged  to  any  regiment  in  the  South.  I 
lived  in  Queen's  County  until  last  spring,  lived 
283 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

there  all  the  time.  I  worked  there  at  farming 
and  oystering.  I  own  a  little  place  of  about 
ten  acres.  I  worked  for  Mr.  Richardson  and 
Captain  Baggs. 

"Since  last  spring  I  have  been  living  in 
Westmoreland  and  Northumberland  Counties. 
They  ran  me  away  from  Queen's  County.  I 
lived  near  Union,  in  Northumberland.  I  used 
to  oyster  on  the  Wicomico  River,  &c. 

"When  the  raid  was  made  last  June,  on  the 
Necks,  I  was  there.  They  did  not  find  my 
boat  that  I  oyster  with,  as  it  was  hauled  up 
and  covered  with  pine  boughs.  I  remained 
hid.  I  saw  a  few  colored  soldiers.  Have 
seen  conscripting  ofificers  and  I  always  ran 
away  from  them.  Have  never  been  to  Rich- 
mond since  1861. 

"I  sent  a  letter  by  George  Booth  across  the 
river  and  heard  from  my  father  the  same  way. 

The  carrier  who  works   from   Rap to 

Potomac,  is  named  James  Wilds ;  I  don't  know 
the  points  he  stops  at.  Charles  or  George 
Booth  carries  the   mail  across  the  Potomac. 

■'T  addressed  the  letter  I  sent  to  my  father 
to  Nashville,  Tenn.  I  have  a  brother  in  the 
Southern  army ;  he  belongs  to  the  fourth 
Georgia  regiment ;  he  is  a  Captain.  I  re- 
ceived an  answer  to  the  letter  I  sent  my 
father.  I  never  wrote  to  him  again,  and  have 
had  no  letter  from  him  since. 

"I  left  Northumberland  County  last  August, 
284 


MARTIN  VAN  BUREN  MORGAN 

and  crossed  over  to  the  Maryland  side.  I  came 
across  in  an  oyster  punt,  at  night.  The  boat 
belonged  to  me.  I  came  over  alone,  brought 
nothing  v^ith  me ;  landed  on  the  Maryland 
side,  at  the  barns,  near  Marshal's  store,  on 
the  St.  George's  Island.  Bennett  and  King 
live  there. 

"When  I  landed  on  the  Maryland  side,  I 
saw  Ben.  King,  Bennett,  and  Mr.  Snyder,  who 
all  came  to  the  barn.  I  went  over  to  Mary- 
land to  get  shoes  and  to  dredge,  but  could  get 
no  work  and  had  to  come  back.  I  also  got 
some  sugar ;  I  got  Ben.  King  to  get  it  for  me. 
I  got  one  pair  of  shoes,  one  pound  of  coffee 
and  one  pound  of  sugar.  This  is  all  I  could 
get.  I  paid  five  dollars  for  the  shoes,  seventy- 
five  cents  for  the  coffee  and  thirty  cents  for 
the  sugar.  I  bought  these  things  for  Mrs. 
Kent ;  I  was  living  with  her.  King  has  been 
driven  off  the  Island.  I  stayed  in  Maryland 
a  week  and  then  paddled  back  to  old  Virginia, 
to  old  Virginia  shore. 

"About  the  rst  September  I  came  to  Mary- 
land shore  again,  paddled  over  on  a  dark 
night,  brought  nothing  over  with  me,  again 
landed  at  the  same  place.  I  came  over  for 
stuff.  Pickets  were  on  the  shore  and  I  could 
not  land,  and  had  to  put  back.  I  carried  over 
forty  dollars  in  greenbacks. 

"After  about  a  week  I  went  over  again,  tak- 
ing over  the  same  thing;  nothing.  I  landed 
28  s 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

this  time  at  Chicken  Cock,  above  Smith's 
Creek,  a  Icctlc.  I  got  my  goods  at  Mr. 
Bean's.  Mr.  Bean  keeps  a  store.  I  got  a  pair 
of  boots  for  eight  dollars,  one  pair  pants  for 
five  dollars,  one  fine-tooth  comb  for  fifteen 
cents,  and  also  a  bottle  of  hair  oil  at  thirty 
or  forty  cents,  and  had  three  or  four  glasses 
of  whiskey. 

"I  treated  a  Lieutenant  and  a  Captain  who 
were  there  from  Piney  Point.  I  had  to  lay  in 
the  bushes  about  two  days,  the  weather  be- 
ing so  rough  I  could  not  cross.  I  spent  about 
thirty  dollars. 

"On  last  Monday  night  I  came  over  again ; 
came  over  alone,  and  in  a  canoe  worth  one 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars ;  left  the  canoe  on 
the  beach.  I  bought  this  canoe  about  a  week 
before  I  came  over.  I  bought  this  canoe  to 
run  the  blockade  with.  I  was  going  to  run 
Jews  across  for  Mr.  Dawson.  Mr.  Dawson 
lives  at  the  head  of  Large  Creek,  Yocomico 
River.  Colonel  Claybrook,  of  Home  Guard, 
lives  on  the  road  from  Large  Creek  to  Union 
Village. 

"I  saw  in  Northumberland  County  about 
three  months  since,  Albert  Klockgether,  who 
gave  me  his  address  in  Baltimore,  and  desired 
me,  when  I  came  over,  to  call  and  see  him. 
Bill  Hayden  carried  over  Klockgether,  in  one 
of  Dawson's  boats. 

"I  left  my  boat  near  Brittan's  Bay,  on  the 
286 


MARTIN  VAN  BUREN  MORGAN 

beach.  Bill  Hayden  has  been  captured  twice, 
and  is  now  back  in  Virginia.  I  came  to  this 
city  on  the  West  River  boat,  and  landed  this 
afternoon.  I  bought  this  shirt  I  have  on  from 
Mr.  Wm.  Hudson,  a  blockade  runner;  paid 
him  six  dollars  for  it  about  three  or  four 
weeks  since.  I  have  heard  that  Hudson  is  now 
captured.  Bought  my  hat  for  five  dollars 
from  the  same  one.  I  bought  my  satchel  from 
Richard  King,  a  blockade  runner.  I  bought 
the  revolver  from  a  Jew  in  Virginia;  paid 
twenty  dollars  for  it. 

"A  man  named  Brown  is  a  blockade  runner. 
I  heard  that  he  brought  over  a  load  of  En- 
neld  rifles,  in  a  sloop ;  the  Home  Guard  are 
armed  with  them. 

"A  Jew  named  Rosenfield  is  connected  be- 
tween Wilmington  and  Canada  and  England, 
in  running  the  blockade.  A  woman  named 
Mrs.  Hays,  of  Baltimore,  was  with  Rosenfield  ; 
she  had  a  trunk  and  satchel ;  she  came  over 
to  Dawson's.  She  was  coming  from  Rich- 
mond. 

"Rosenfield  said  he  was  going  back.  T 
knew  three  Jews  by  sight,  who  have  brought 
medicine  across — I  think  from  Eastern  shore. 
I  don't  know  their  names. 

"A  Rebel  ofificer,  Captain  Berry,  came  over 

to   the   Maryland   side   in    full    uniform,   and 

came  back  again.     I  have  seen  him  lots  of 

times ;  he  is  stationed  above  Boler's,  who  lives 

287 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

at  the  ferry  over  the  Rappahannock,  about 
twenty  miles  from  mouth  of  the  river. 

"They  have  large  flat  boats  to  carry  over 
men,  oxen,  wagons,  &c. — have  two  there  now. 
This  ferry  is  about  fifty  miles  from  Richmond. 
There  is  a  large  camp  of  Cavalry  about  eight 
miles  from  the  ferry  on  the  south  side  of  the 
river.  Gunboats  can  come  up  as  far  as 
Boler's.  Captain  Moon  lives  opposite  the 
guard  ship,  on  the  Virginia  side,  at  the  wind- 
mill. 

"Foster  Maynard  took  the  oath  at  Point 
Lookout,  and  is  now  conscript  ofificer ;  he  is  a 
Captain.  Maynard  lives  about  one  mile  from 
King's  Sail.  King's  Sail  is  on  the  Yocomico 
River. 

"About  two  weeks  since.  Bill  Hayden  and 
Joe  Cooper  came  over  to  Brittan's  Bay,  to  a 
little  creek  this  side  of  the  Bay,  just  above 
Piney  Point ;  a  white  house  is  on  the  shore. 
The  house  right  by  the  saw  mill  is  tlie  house 
they  go  to.  They  go  to  this  house  to  buy 
goods  to  run  the  blockade  with.  I  bought  a 
little  cutter  from  this  place ;  bought  over  three 
sacks  of  salt,  hats,  caps,  boots,  shoes,  and  a 
jug  of  whiskey. 

"Richard  King,  of  Northumberland  County, 
a  blockade  runner,  comes  to  this  side  of  the 
river  and  buys  canoes  and  yawl  boats.  King 
has  been  over  here  for  the  last  three  weeks. 
About  four  weeks  ago  King  got  a  canoe  from 
288 


MARTIN  VAN  BUREN  MORGAN 

Alexandria,  and  took  it  over  to  Dawson's  and 
sold  it  to  him.  He  came  to  Baltimore  once, 
on  a  pung"y. 

"John  Olison  owns  a  pungy ;  dredges 
around  St.  George's.  He  lives  on  the  Vir- 
ginia side.  Elias  Steele,  blockade  runner, 
lives  in  Westmoreland  County.  Captain  Wm. 
Dawson  lives  at  Larges  Creek. 

"Union  Village  is  where  the  mail  comes.  It 
comes  every  week  (not  certain).  Mrs.  Frank 
Lewis  gave  me  the  letter  addressed  to  Mr. 
Steele,  to  give  to  Mr.  Steele.  (I  never  gave  it 
to  him.)  Union  Village  is  about  eight  miles 
from  the  beach.  I  found  out  that  Mr.  Steele 
had  crossed  the  Potomac. 

"I  have  seen  large  quantities  of  tobacco  hid 
under  corn  shucks,  and  I  know  he  has  a  large 
sum  of  money  and  a  number  of  watches  in  his 
house  (Dawson's  house). 

"At  Dawson's  house  are  the  following  per- 
sons: Mr.  Dawson,  Sr.,  Mrs.  Dawson,  Miss 
Dawson,  Mrs.  Nancy  Clarke  and  her  daugh- 
ter, and  Dawson,  Jr.   (a  boy). 

"There  are  two  canoes  at  Dawson's." 


289 


FILE   XLI. 

I  am  introduced  to  General  Grant — The  assassination 
— Capture  of  Samuel  B.  Arnold,  one  of  the  con- 
spirators, sent  to  Dry  Tortugas — Arrested  the 
Bransons  and  their  household,  uncovering  Paine's 
pedigree ;  thereafter  he  was  Lewis  Paine  Powell 
— Paine  had  my  parole  on  his  person  when  ar- 
rested— Paine  hung. 

The  saddest  day  in  our  nation's  history  was  Fri- 
day, April  14th,  1865.  Early  in  the  evening  I  v^as 
introduced  to  General  Grant,  in  his  private  car; 
he  was  on  his  way  from  Washington  to  Philadel- 
phia. The  private  car  was  standing  on  Howard 
just  north  of  Camden  Street.  At  that  time  the 
cars  of  through  trains  were  hauled  through  Balti- 
more by  horses  up  Howard,  down  Pratt  to  Presi- 
dent Street,  and  to  the  depot. 

Mr.  Wm.  G.  Woodside,  the  paymaster  of  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  had  asked  me  if  I 
would  like  to  be  introduced  to  the  General.  We 
entered  the  car  from  the  rear  door.  I  do  not  re- 
member there  being  any  person  in  the  car  except 
the  General  and  Mrs.  Grant.  It  was  understood  in 
Washington  that  General  Grant  was  to  have  ac- 
290 


INTRODUCED   TO   GEN.  GRANT 

companied  the  President  to  the  theatre  that  even- 
ing. 

We  retired  at  about  lo  o'clock,  prepared  to  start 
the  next  morning,  Saturday,  the  15th,  for  the  north- 
ern neck  of  Virginia,  with  Morgan,  as  outHned  in 
the  file  preceding.  Soon  after  retiring  we  were 
informed  of  the  assassination.  There  is  no  word  in 
the  language  to  describe  the  shock  I  felt.  I  put  on 
my  clothes  and  did  not  take  them  off  again  until 
Wednesday,  the  19th.  Adjutant  General  Lawrence 
sent  for  me,  and  instructed  me  to  abandon  my  trip 
to  the  Northern  Neck. 

The  following  telegram  came  early  Saturday 
morning;  in  it  Paine  is  described  quite  perfectly, 
but  at  that  time  I  had  no  idea  that  he  was  the  per- 
son described : 

United  States  Military  Telegram, 

Apl.  15,  1865. 
The  following  is  a  description  of  the  as- 
sassin of  the  Hon.  W.  H.  Seward,  Secretary 
of  State,  and  Hon.  Frederick  W.  Seward, 
Assistant  Secretary.  You  will  use  every  ex- 
ertion in  your  power  and  call  to  your  aid  the 
entire  force  under  your  control  to  secure  the 
arrest  of  the  assassin. 

Height  6y2  feet,  black  hair,  thick,  full,  and 

straight.    No  beard,  nor  appearance  of  beard. 

Cheeks  red  on  the  jaws,  and  face  moderately 

full.    22  or  23  years  of  age.    Eyes,  color  not 

291 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

known,  large  eyes,  not  prominent.  Brows  not 
heavy,  but  dark.  Face  not  large,  but  rather 
round.  Complexion  healthy.  Nose  straight 
and  well  formed.  Medium  sized  mouth,  small 
lip,  thin  upper  lip,  protrudes  when  he  talks. 
Chin  pointed  and  prominent.  Head  of  me- 
dium size.  Neck  short  and  of  medium  length. 
Hands  small  and  fingers  tapering,  showed  no 
signs  of  hard  labor.  Broad  shoulders,  taper 
waist,  straight  figure,  strong  looking  man ; 
manner  not  gentlemanly,  but  vulgar. 

Overcoat  double  breasted,  color  mixed  of 
pink  and  grey  spots,  small ;  was  a  sack  over- 
coat, pockets  inside  and  on  breast,  with  lapels 
or  flaps.  Pants,  black,  common  stuff.  New 
heavy  boots.  Voice  small,  inclined  to  tenor. 
(Signed)    N.  S.  Jeffries, 

A.  P.  M.  G. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 

Baltimore,  Apl.  i6,  1865. 
Colonel : 

I    have    some    important    intelligence,    send 
Lieut.  Smith  to  me  at  once. 

Samuel  B.  Lawrence, 
To  A.  A.  G. 

Colonel  Woolley. 

The  information  was  about  a  letter  that  had  been 
found  in  Booth's  trunk,  written  from  Hookstown, 
292 


SAMUEL     B.    ARNOLD. 


INTRODUCED   TO   GEN.  GRANT 

Md.,  from  Samuel  Arnold,  showing  his  (Arnold's) 
complicity  in  the  assassination, 

I  at  once,  with  one  of  my  men,  Mr.  Babcock, 
went  to  Hookstown.  We  avoided  our  pickets, 
traveled  across  country,  and  reached  Arnold's  home 
about  noon.  We  sat  down,  as  if  to  rest,  on  Arnold's 
porch,  asking  no  questions,  but  waited  to  be  ques- 
tioned. A  colored  woman  opened  the  door,  and  I 
asked  her  if  she  would  give  us  something  to  eat, 
for  money.  She  agreed  and  invited  us  into  the  sit- 
ting room,  while  she  prepared  something  for  us. 

There  was  no  white  person  about.  We  ate  and 
visited,  she  questioning  us  about  the  murder,  and 
we  cautioning  her.  Finally,  when  we  were  about 
to  leave,  we  told  her  we  knew  Mr.  Arnold.  She 
said  he  had  gone  away  some  days  since  to  Old 
Point  Comfort.  Our  purpose  was  accomplished. 
It  is  not  necessary  to  say  we  hurried. 

Everybody  -bound  for  Old  Point  had  to  get  a 
pass  at  our  office.  A  record  was  kept  of  each, 
together  with  the  name  of  a  person  as  reference. 
An  examination  of  the  register  disclosed  at  once 
Samuel  B.  Arnold's  name,  vouched  for  by  Mr. 
Wharton  ("Wickey"  Wharton),  whom  we  knew; 
he  was  sutler  at  Old  Point.  We  wired  to  him  to 
know  where  Arnold  was.  He  replied :  "A  clerk  in 
my  employ."    We  then  wired  for  his  arrest. 

He  was  arrested  and  sent  to  Baltimore  on  the 
Bay  Line  boat,   reaching   Baltimore  on  the   i8th. 

293 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

The  following  was  my  order  to  go  to  Washington 
with  him : 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 
Office  Provost  Marshal, 
Baltimore,  Apl.  i8,  1865. 
Lieut.  H.  B.  Smith    (in    citizen's    clothes) 
and  officer  Babcock,  will  accompany  the  officer 
in  charge  of  S.  B.  Arnold,  to  Washington,  to 
aid  in  securing  Arnold's  safe  delivery.     The 
duty  performed  they  will  return  to  these  head- 
quarters without  delay. 

By  command  of  Bvt.  Brigadier  General 
Morris. 

John  Woolley, 
Lt.  Col.  Chf.  Staff  Prov.  Mar. 

Arnold  was  sentenced  to  Dry  Tortugas  for  life. 
Following  is  a  copy  of  Arnold's  letter,  found  in 
Booth's  trunk : 

Hookstown,  Baltimore  County,  Md., 

March  27,  1865. 
Dear  John: 

Was  business  so  important  that  you  could 
not  remain  in  Baltimore  till  I  saw  you?  I 
came  in  as  soon  as  I  could,  but  found  you  had 

gone  to  W n.    I  called  also  to  see  Mike, 

but  learned  from  his  mother  he  had  gone  out 
with  you,  and  had  not  returned.     I  concluded, 
therefore,  he  had  gone  with  you. 
294 


THE    ASSASSINATION 

How  inconsiderate  you  have  been.  When 
I  left  you,  you  stated  we  would  meet  in  a 
month  or  so.  Therefore  I  made  application 
for  employment,  an  answer  to  which  I  shall 
receive  during  the  week.  I  told  my  parents 
I  had  ceased  with  you. 

Can  I  then,  under  existing  circumstances, 
come  as  you  requested?  You  know  full  well 
that  the  G 1  suspicions  something  is  go- 
ing on  there ;  therefore  the  undertaking  is  be- 
coming more  complicated.  Why  not,  for  the 
present  desist,  for  various  reasons?  which,  if 
you  look  into,  you  can  readily  see  without 
my  making  any  mention  thereof  to  you.  Nor 
anyone  can  censure  me  for  my  present  course. 
You  have  been  its  cause,  for  how  can  I  now 
come  after  telling  them  I  had  left  you  ?  Sus- 
picion rests  on  me  now,  from  my  whole  fam- 
ily, and  even  parties  in  the  country.  I  will  be 
compelled  to  leave  home,  anyhow,  and  how 
soon  I  care  not. 

None,  no,  not  one,  were  more  in  favor  of 
the  enterprise  than  myself,  and  to-day  would 
be  there,  had  you  not  done  as  you  have — by 
this,  I  mean,  manner  of  proceeding. 

I  am,  as  you  well  know,  in  need.  I  am,  you 
may  say.  in  rags,  whereas  to-day  I  ought  to  be 
well  clothed. 

I  do  not  feel  right  stalking  about  without 
means,  and  more  from  appearance  a  beggar. 
I    feel   my   independence;   but   even   all    this 

295 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

would  be,  and  was  forgotten,  for  I  was  one 
with  you.  Time  more  propitious  will  arrive 
yet.  Do  not  act  rashly  or  in  haste.  I  would 
prefer  your  first  query,  "Go  and  see  how  it 

will  be  taken  at  R d,"  and  ere  long  I 

shall  be  better  prepared  to  again  be  with  you. 
I  dislike  writing ;  would  sooner  verbally  make 
known  my  views,  yet  you  know  writing  causes 
me  thus  to  proceed. 

Do  not  in  anger  peruse  this,  weigh  all  I 
have  said,  and  as  a  rational  man  and  a  friend, 
you  cannot  censure  or  upbraid  my  conduct.  I 
sincerely  trust  this,  nor  naught  else  that  shall 
or  may  occur,  will  ever  be  an  obstacle  to  ob- 
literate our  former  friendship  and  attachment. 

Write  me  to  Baltimore,  as  I  expect  to  be  in 
about  Wednesday  or  Thursday,  or,  if  you  can 
possibly  come  on,  I  will  Tuesday  meet  you  in 
Baltimore  at  B — — ■ — .  Ever  I  subscribe  my- 
self, 

Your  friend, 

Sam. 

Notwithstanding  the  opprobrium  attaching  to  the 
name,  Arnold,  in  American  history,  I  have  always 
looked  upon  this  Arnold  with  some  feelings  of  pity. 

The  following  account  of  Paine's  arrest  is  bor- 
rowed from  Mr.  Osborn  H.  Oldroyd's  "Assassina- 
tion of  Abraham  Lincoln" : 

The  doorbell  of  Mrs.  Surratt's  house,  No. 
541    (now   No.   604)    H   Street,   N.   W.,    was 
296 


■%,^^fS^ 


THE    ASSASSINATION 

rung  by  Major  H.  W.  Smith,  in  company 
with  other  officers,  about  eleven  o'clock  Mon- 
day night,  the  17th.  When  the  bell  rang,  Mrs. 
Surratt  appeared  at  the  window  and  said:  "Is 
that  you,  Mr.  Kirby"?  The  reply  was  that 
it  was  not  Mr.  Kirby,  and  to  open  the  door. 
She  opened  the  door,  and  was  asked :  "Are 
you  Mrs.  Surratt?"  She  said:  "I  am  the 
widow  of  John  H.  Surratt."  The  officer 
added,  "And  the  mother  of  John  H.  Surratt, 
Jr.  ?"  She  replied  :  "I  am."  Major  Smith  said : 
"I  come  to  arrest  you  and  all  in  your  house, 
and  take  you  for  examination  to  General 
Augur's  headquarters."  No  inquiry  whatever 
was  made  as  to  the  cause  of  arrest.  Mr.  R. 
C.  Morgan,  in  the  service  of  the  War  Depart- 
ment, made  his  appearance  at  the  Surratt 
house  a  few  minutes  later,  sent  under  orders 
to  superintend  the  seizure  of  papers  and  the 
arrest  of  the  inmates.  While  the  officers  were 
in  the  house  a  knock  and  ring  were  heard  at 
the  door,  and  Mr.  Morgan  and  Captain  Wer- 
merskirch  stepped  forward  and  opened  the 
door,  and  Lewis  Payne  stepped  in  with  a  pick- 
ax over  his  shoulder,  dressed  in  a  gray  coat 
and  vest  and  black  trousers.  As  he  had  left 
his  hat  in  the  house  of  Secretary  Seward,  he 
had  made  one  out  of  the  sleeve  of  a  shirt  or 
the  leg  of  a  drawers,  pulling  it  over  his  head 
like  a  turban.  He  said  he  wished  to  see  Mrs. 
Surratt,  and  when  asked  what  he  came  that 
297 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

time  of  night  for,  he  repHed  he  came  to  dig 
a  gutter,  as  Mrs.  Surratt  had  sent  for  him  in 
the  morning.  When  asked  where  he  boarded, 
he  said  he  had  no  boarding  house,  that  he  was 
a  poor  man,  who  got  his  Hving  with  the  pick. 
Mr.  Morgan  asked  him  why  he  came  at  that 
hour  of  the  night  to  go  to  work  ?  He  said  he 
simply  called  to  find  out  what  time  he  should 
go  to  work  in  the  morning.  When  asked  if 
he  had  any  previous  acquaintance  with  Mrs. 
Surratt,  he  answered,  "No,"  but  said  that  she 
knew  he  was  working  around  the  neighbor- 
hood and  was  a  poor  man,  and  came  to  him. 
He  gave  his  age  as  twenty,  and  was  from 
Fauquier  County,  Virginia,  and  pulled  out  an 
oath  of  allegiance,  and  on  it  was  "Lewis 
Payne,  Fauquier  County,  Virginia."  Mrs. 
Surratt  was  asked  whether  she  knew  him,  and 
she  declared  in  the  presence  of  Payne,  hold- 
ing up  her  hands :  "Before  God,  I  have  never 
seen  that  man  before ;  I  have  not  hired  him ; 
I  do  not  know  anything  about  him."  Mrs. 
Surratt  said  to  Mr.  Morgan :  "I  am  so  glad 
you  officers  came  here  to-night,  for  this  man 
came  here  with  a  pickax  to  kill  us." 

From  Mrs.  Surratt's  house  Payne  was  taken 
to  the  provost  marshal's  office.  Mrs.  Surratt 
was  informed  that  the  carriage  was  ready  to 
take  her  to  the  provost  marshal's  office,  and 
she,  with  her  daughter  Annie,  Miss  Honora 
Fitzpatrick,  and  Miss  Olivia  Jenkins  (the  lat- 
298 


CAPTURE  OF  ARNOLD 

ter  two  boarded  at  the  house),  were  driven 
away. 

The  relegram  received  on  Saturday  morning  the 
15th,  giving  a  description  of  the  person  who  tried 
to  kill  Secretary  Seward,  was  quite  accurate,  con- 
sidering it  was  made  by  persons  under  great  ex- 
citement. The  oath  of  allegiance  which  Paine  pulled 
out  of  his  pocket  when  arrested,  was  the  document 
issued  from  our  office.  He  had  erased,  however, 
the  restriction  which  ordered  that  he  was  to  "go 
north  of  Philadelphia  and  remain  during  the  war." 

Before  telling  of  what  I  did  after  discovering 
Paine  to  be  the  person  I  had  released  on  March 
14th,  I  want  you  to  read  the  account  Mr.  Oldroyd 
gives  of  his  clumsily  brutal  attack  on  Secretary 
Seward : 

"Lewis  Payne  (his  real  name  was  Lewis 
Thornton  Powell),  boarded  at  the  Horndon 
House,  corner  Ninth  and  F  Streets,  where  the 
Loan  and  Trust  Building  now  stands,  for  two 
weeks,  leaving  there  oi\  the  afternoon  of  April 
14th,  He  paid  his  bill  at  four  o'clock,  and  re- 
quested dinner  before  the  regular  time,  and  it 
was  served  to  him. 

Very  little  is  known  of  his  whereabouts 
from  that  time  until  10  P.  M.,  when  he  rang 
the  bell  of  the  Seward  mansion,  which  stood 
on  the  ground  now  occupied  by  the  Lafayette 
Opera  House. 

299 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

When  the  door  was  opened  by  the  colored 
doorkeeper,  Payne  stepped  in,  holding  a  httle 
package  in  his  hand,  saying  that  he  had  some 
medicine  for  Secretary  Seward,  sent  by  Dr. 
Verdi,  which  he  was  directed  to  deliver  in  per- 
son and  give  instructions  how  it  was  to  be 
taken. 

The  doorkeeper  informed  him  that  he  could 
not  see  Mr.  Seward,  but  he  repeated  the 
words,  saying  he  must  see  him.  He  talked 
very  roughly  for  several  minutes  against  the 
protest  of  the  doorkeeper,  who  said  he  had 
positive  orders  to  admit  no  one  to  the  sick- 
chamber. 

The  doorkeeper  finally  weakened,  thinking 
perhaps  he  was  sent  by  Dr.  Verdi,  and  let  him 
ascend  the  stairs.  When  at  the  top,  he  met 
Mr.  Frederick  Seward,  a  son  of  the  Secre- 
tary's, to  whom  he  told  the  object  of  his  visit, 
but  Mr.  Seward  told  him  that  he  could  not  see 
his  father ;  that  he  was  asleep,  but  to  give  him 
the  medicine  and  he  would  take  it  to  him. 
That  would  not  do ;  he  must  see  Mr.  Seward ; 
and  then  Mr.  Seward  said :  'T  am  the  pro- 
prietor here,  and  his  son ;  if  you  cannot  leave 
your  message  with  me,  you  cannot  leave  it 
at  all." 

Payne  started  downstairs,  and  after  taking 

a   few   steps,    suddenly    turned    around    and 

struck  Mr.  Frederick  Seward,  felling  him  to 

the  floor.    Sergeant  George  F.  Robinson,  act- 

300 


CAPTURE  OF  ARNOLD 

ing  as  attendant  nurse  to  Mr.  Seward,  was  in 
an  adjoining  room,  and  on  hearing  the  noise 
in  the  haU  opened  the  door,  where  he  found 
Payne  close  up  to  it.  As  soon  as  the  door  was 
opened,  he  struck  Robinson  in  the  forehead 
with  a  knife,  knocking  him  partially  down,  and 
pressed  past  him  to  the  bed  of  Mr.  Seward, 
where  he  leaned  over  it  and  struck  him  three 
times  in  the  neck  with  his  dagger. 

Mr.  Seward  had  been  out  riding  shortly  be- 
fore the  fatal  day,  and  had  been  thrown  from 
his  carriage  with  great  violence,  breaking  an 
arm  and  fracturing  his  jaw.  The  physician 
had  fixed  up  a  steel  mask  or  frame  to  hold 
the  broken  bones  in  place  while  setting.  The 
assassin's  dagger  cut  his  face  from  the  right 
cheek  down  to  the  neck,  and  but  for  this  steel 
bandage,  which  deflected  two  of  the  stabs,  the 
assassin  might  have  accomplished  his  purpose. 

The  carriage  disaster  was  after  this  night 
almost  considered  a  blessing  in  disguise. 
Frederick  Seward  suffered  intensely  from  a 
fracture  of  the  cranium.  The  nurse  attempted 
to  haul  Payne  off  the  bed,  when  he  turned  and 
attacked  him  the  second  time.  During  this 
scuffle  Major  Augustus  H.  Seward,  son  of 
Secretary  Seward,  entered  the  room  and 
clinched  Payne,  and  between  the  two  they  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  him  to  the  door,  when  he 
broke  away  and  ran  downstairs  and  outdoors. 

The  colored  doorkeeper  ran  after  the  police 
301 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

or  guards  when  Frederick  Seward  was 
knocked  down,  and  returned  and  reported 
that  he  saw  the  man  riding  a  horse  and  fol- 
lowed him  to  I  Street,  where  he  was  lost 
sight  of. 

In  some  way  Payne's  horse  got  away  from 
him,  for  a  little  after  one  o'clock  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  15th  Lieutenant  John  F.  Toffey. 
on  going  to  the  Lincoln  Hospital,  East  Capitol 
and  Fifteenth  Streets,  where  he  was  on  duty, 
found  a  dark  bay  horse,  with  saddle  and  bridle 
on,  standing  at  Lincoln  Branch  Barracks.  The 
horse  no  doubt  came  in  on  a  sort  of  byroad 
that  led  to  Camp  Barry,  which  turned  north 
from  the  Branch  Barracks  toward  the  Bla- 
densburg  road.  The  sweat  pouring  from  the 
animal  had  made  a  regular  puddle  on  the 
ground.  A  sentinel  at  the  hospital  had  stopped 
the  horse.  Lieutenant  Toffey  and  Captain 
Lansing,  of  the  13th  New  York  Cavalry,  took 
the  horse  to  the  headquarters  of  the  picket  at 
the  Old  Capitol  Prison,  and  from  there  to 
General  E.  O.  C.  Ord's  headquarters.  After 
reaching  there,  they  discovered  that  the  horse 
was  blind  of  one  eye,  which  identified  it  as  the 
one  Booth  purchased  in  November,  1864, 
from  Squire  George  Gardiner." 

Immediately  upon  the  identification  of  Paine  I 
arrested    the    Bransons   and  all   the  occupants  of 
their  fashionable  boarding  house,   No,    16   North 
302 


ARREST  OF  THE  BRANSONS 

Eutaw  Street.     Following  is  a  list  of  the  persons 
arrested : 

Mrs.  M.  A.  Branson,  Mr.  Chas.  Ewart, 

Miss  M.  A.  Branson,  Mr.  C.  E.  Barnet, 

Miss  Maggie  Branson,  Mr.  J.  C.  Hall, 

Mrs.  Early,  Mr.  W.  H.  Ward, 

Mrs.  Croyean,  Mr.  E.  A.  Wilier, 

Miss  Croyean,  Mr.  C.  H.  Croyean, 

Mrs.  Thomas  Hall,  Mr.  Aug.  Thomas, 

Miss  Josephine  Hall,  Mr.  Winchester, 

Mr.  Joseph  Branson,  Jr.,  Mr.  Thos.  Hall, 

Mr.  C.  H.  Morgan,  Mr.  S.  T.  Morgan, 

Mr.  C.  S.  Shriver,  Mr.  H.  D.  Shriver. 

I  began  my  examination  of  the  individuals  in  the 
house,  seeking  to  find  who,  if  any,  were  intimate 
with  Paine,  and  might,  therefore,  have  had  some 
knowledge  of  the  crime  "before  the  fact." 

Not  all  of  these  people  were  known  to  be  dis- 
loyal. Messrs-.  C.  H.  Morgan,  S.  T.  Morgan,  C.  S. 
Shriver  and  H.  D.  Shriver  are  marked  on  my  list 
as  "loyal,"  and  there  may  have  been  others. 

I  have  a  lead  pencil  memorandum  of  the  exam- 
ination in  the  house  (No.  i6  North  Eutaw  Street) 
but  it  is  so  disjointed  as  to  be  unintelligible,  and  I 
will  not  put  it  in  here.  Finding  that  the  most  val- 
uable source  of  information  was  the  Bransons,  I 
released  all  others,  resuming  the  examination  of 
Miss  Maggie  Branson  in  my  office  where  I  could 
be  more  deliberate. 

303 


; , .  (BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

.^fTrHten  stdtedieritiisjmikqdiandltdBjomted  and  there 
are  repetitions.  It  took  me  much  time  to  eHcit  the 
facts.  She  .broke  dow;i  and  wanted  ,me  to  destroy 
a  great  part  o£  her  sta,tement  and  let  her  replace  it 
with  a  tri^fjhjfpl'Qnp,  .]\[Uich  I  ^^j^^^qdj,  requiring  that 
all  sh^-|]a^'saii^  Sslipu^^/J^e  put  down. 

'fexdrtiinatidti  dit  Miss  Maggie  Branson. 

"lr{^^^rd.t^J,\je  Q^eral  Hospital  at  Gettys- 
burg ,alp',ou!t:r$^!^;^\¥^g(ks  in  1963.T     I  was  there 
in  the'cafpacityi'pf.filUrse.  .1 J  (^n"t  know  any  of 
th^.,^r;g]epn3"  ej^cepft';  Dr.  Siniley,  of  Philadel- 
ph^%,v|iYl^0  wpuj4  rj^ember  me.     I  went  there 
to  assist  all  the  wpunded  .soldiers.    While  there 
'-'■''ris\V''i''fiiiii^'kri*6lVil'afe''lL'^Wis  Payne;  he  went 
yJF,rg>^]ithe»"'ii^ta€'."df  '^'Dd«6r^'''and  "Powell."  he 
•jrrio^^oh^'i  pa'irbf'-tJlti'e'paiits/il  think,  and  a  slouch 
hat;  I  dMirioirhave  Wi'dh-  talk  with  him  while 
-^ifthetet.j   liv/oi;.!  vr  ■  /;   ■'! 

>:  .  •  "J  .di^.^vOtleatn, during  the  time  I  was  there 

III \\j|>^t(Jb)e  (VV^Sfiiflf  d9p't,  iremember  of  giving  him 

my   ad(fljije,s^,...^,S9i;t^9tirne   in    the   same    year, 

-rmf^^'^.^^ri^^^o^teiYFtf^.^ni^^i, Recurrence,  I  saw  him 

at  our  |iowse-   he  called   to  see  me.     I   can 

-  .' scarcel^v" r.^memtier  "how  he  was  dressed;  but 

^f  think' fn  a  ^eHerai  uniform.     I  think  he  was 

-^^•■^stB^^pfn^^k'^'fillet-'s"  Hotel. 

I   .^n<^^n^'skkliire  Nvaht^d  to  cross  the  lines  but  did 

Id  f](oft^'sayfHvhfere''to,.'  nor  in  what  direction;  he 

bludidlnot-lfell  me'where  his  home  was;  I  don't 

remember  what  I  replied. 


'<^^" 


ARREST  OF  THE  BRANSONS 

I  did  not  ask  him  anything-  about  his  in- 
tentions as  to  crossing  the  Hnes.  I  don't  know 
that  he  told  me  what  his  intentions  were ;  it 
was  in  the  afternoon  when  he  called.  He 
again  called  at  our  house  about  the  middle  of 
Tanuar)^  1865 ;  he  was  dressed  in  black 
clothes ;  he  said  he  was  from  Fauquier  Coun- 
ty, Virginia;  he  said  he  had  just  come  in  on 
the  cars,  and  he  wanted  to  board,  but  we  could 
not  at  that  time  accommodate  him ;  there  was 
no  one  else  present ;  he  said  he  was  a  refugee 
and  had  his  papers ;  he  wanted  to  show  them 
to  me. 

He  said  at  Gettysburg  that  his  name  was 
Powell ;  on  his  second  visit  at  the  house  he  said 
his  name  was  Payne." 

At  this  point  in  the  examination  Miss  Branson 
broke  down.  She  realized  that  I  was  drawing  her 
into  a  net  of  contradictions,  and  she  thereafter  pro- 
posed to  be  rriore  frank  and  truthful  with  me. 

"He  said  his  father  was  a  Baptist  clergy- 
man ;  said  he  had  two  brothers  that  were 
killed  in  the  army ;  it  is  my  impression  that 
they  were  in  the  Confederate  Army. 

"He  said  a  great  deal  of  Mosby,  and  I 
should  judge  by  his  talk  that  he  belonged  to 
Mosby's  Command.  I  have  some  slight  recol- 
lection of  his  saying  that  he  assisted  in  cap- 
turing a  wagon  train  and  some  amount  of 
newspapers  on  one  occasion. 

305 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

"I  have  occasionally  walked  out  with  him. 
I   called  once  or  twice  at  Mrs.  Heims,  No. 

Race  Street,  with  him,  we  saw  Charles 

and  William  Heim  there ;  he  did  not  see  Mr. 
Heim,  he  (Heim)  was  in  Richmond;  I  never 
saw  any  one  else  there  when  I  went  with  Mr. 
Payne.  He  told  me  that  his  proper  name 
was  Powell ;  he  said  this  when  he  came  here 
this  year. 

"We  also  called  on  Mrs.  Mantz,  on  Balti- 
more Street,  near  Green  Street.  I  introduced 
him  there  as  Mr.  Payne.  I  might  have  called 
twice  at  this  place.  I  often  went  to  church 
with  him.  He  was  arrested  at  our  house  on 
March  12th,  1865,  by  Colonel  Woolley's  offi- 
cers. I  saw  him  after  his  release,  on  the  day 
he  was  released ;  I  have  not  seen  him  since.  I 
heard  from  him  only  once,  that  was  by  a  let- 
ter to  my  sister  from  New  York. 

"I  have  sent  provisions,  &c.,  to  prisoners  of 
war  at  Fort  McHenry  and  Johnson's  Island. 
I  consider  myself  loyal.  I  have  a  great  many 
friends  in  the  South,  and  many  relatives.  I 
have  never  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance. 

"Mr.  E.  W.  Blair  used  to  meet  Mr.  Payne 
at  the  house  very  often.  On  one  occasion  he 
went  with  him  to  the  theatre.  Mr.  Chas.  G. 
Heim  used  to  call  on  us  and  would  see  Mr. 
Payne. 

"If  he  had  on  a  blue  uniform  when  he  came 
from  Gettysburg,  it  was  worn  to  aid  him  in 
306 


ARREST  OF  THE  BRANSONS 

getting  South ;  it  was  not  worn  to  act  as  a 
spy.  I  am  confident  that  he  never  was  North 
before.  My  sister  said  she  thought  at  Gettys- 
burg that  he  was  a  Federal  doctor.  Some 
called  him  Powell ;  I  think  he  was  introduced 
to  me  as  Powell  when  he  first  came  to  our 
house.  I  think  his  correct  name  is  Powell ;  he 
said  his  father  was  a  Baptist  minister,  that 
he  had  lost  two  brothers  in  the  war  and  that 
he  did  not  know  but  that  a  third.  His  name 
may  be  Lewis  Payne  Powell.  When  he  came 
to  our  house  to  board  this  year  it  was  about 
the  last  days  of  January.  Before  coming 
there  he  boarded  at  Miller's  Hotel  about  ten 
days.  He  called  on  us  several  times  while  he 
was  boarding  at  Miller's  Hotel.  Sister  or  I 
entertained  him  when  he  came ;  his  talk  was 
principally  of  the  ladies ;  he  complained  of  his 
education. 

"After  he  came  to  our  house  to  board  I 
introduced  him  to  the  boarders  as  Mr.  Payne. 
I  said  to  Miss  Hall,  one  of  the  boarders,  that 
he  (Payne)  was  from  Frederick  County,  Md. 

"He  was  not  particularly  intimate  with  any 
one  of  the  boarders.  He  was  acquainted  with 
all  of  them.  My  sister  played  chess  with  him ; 
Mr.  Barnett  played  with  him.  I  have  seen 
him  speak  to  Mr.  Joseph  Thomas.  I  do  not 
think  they  were  intimate.  I  have  spent  con- 
siderable time  with  him.  I  think  I  spent  more 
time  with  him  than  my  sister  or  any  of  the 

307 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

other  parties  in  the  house.  I  walked  with  him 
very  often.  I  was  accompanied  by  Mr.  Payne 
over  in  old  town,  on  a  matter  of  business,  to 
employ  some  servants.  I  proposed  to  call  on 
my  cousin,  Mrs.  Dukehart,  corner  of  Fayette 
and  East  Streets,  and  he  agreed.  I  left  him 
in  the  parlor  alone,  and  went  up  stairs  to  see 
the  family,  and  staid  a  short  time  and  left.  I 
am  sure  not  a  member  of  the  family  saw  him ; 
in  the  evening  we  called  again.  I  called  with 
him  on  Mrs.  Heim  on  Paca  Street,  I  might 
have  called  several  times,  we  took  tea  there 
once ;  at  other  times  only  made  short  calls, 
at  no  time  when  we  called  was  there  any  visi- 
tors there.  Mr.  Heim's  business  was  in  Rich- 
mond. Mr.  Payne  went  to  New  York  before 
Mr.  Heim  came  home  from  Richmond.  Mrs. 
Heim  knew  Mr.  Payne  was  from  Virginia.  I 
don't  know  that  she  knew  he  was  in  the  Rebel 
Army.  I  do  not  think  Charles  G.  Heim  was 
at  any  time  home,  when  we  called. 

"We  (Mr.  Payne  and  I)  called  on  Mrs. 
Mentz,  on  Baltimore  Street ;  she  is  my  aunt. 
I  think  we  called  on  her  twice.  She  knew  he 
was  from  Virginia.  I  don't  know  that  my  sis- 
ter ever  went  out  with  Mr.  Payne.  T  don't  re- 
member going  to  any  other  place  except  to 
church.  I  went  several  times ;  do  not  know 
exactly  how  many. 

I  remember  his  arrest  on  or  about  March 
12,  1865,  by  Colonel  Woolley.  I  came  to  this 
308 


'  our  house :  that  was  very  saucy.-   I  ,told  Lieut.  • 
,,    Sniith,,that  he   (Eg-ine)  had  ,not  been,  Norm, 
peiore  since   the   war  commenced.     1  at  ine 
'''  'bnietime'llnew  -he  ha'd';T  ~clid'-tlilfe  tB^'^s^iilW  1  ' 
' 'hin^'frbrtiiiil^.  ^Kftef  •his"t^^lea§^'^^  :<iaki^''to  ■ 
•  oUi-^  hoiise'^nd  Mi  'dlmb^f  irtllti^dlStelyi^''  M^-'  ■' 
impressiori- is'  that;  'he  went  diredt-l!y"t©;.'N€w  ■-''■ 
i'l  Yonki  ii'.b   Jilj    ni    bar,   .Yripxiirj'*    \mnHnu-ry\i)   in 
"Af  ter-  iherarrivied  jtherES'  te  ■  wrotetteier/f  rottiji  1 1 
i    tljie  , J^yer&„Hpu^!?j.  .dir^ctipg  ymV-o  'VJ^^m^V  ■  • 
.  ,  ,hini  at,Rq\[e.ve,-g9.m^-  i  ^  iwrq^ft.faiil?  ■j9P?Ml^Htit 

heard  from  him  asrain,  never  saw  him  affain,    , 
after  he  left  for  New   York;  no  one  that  1 
know  saw  him.     I  have  always  been  a  Rebel 
sympathizer." ir'hfefW^s^ttf'ljfdt^sions,  &c.,  to 


W^^^.i  \,Ay^n^^n  M  !>lr;.,o  o.uh:)  oA     .l-\ 
W,tel^.s5^?j34#>shedj.^§5^^Yft?na?,W%^.9-,\?arn 

inf€«me|d,  ,t?er  ,tl?^t.  j^lie;  yv^ j  rf ^qpj^i^blHc ^ftf  ?S#e's 
act&i;i (thitjfif [j&teei'haidjtoJd! m^pXhf^  Hwtb  -wlben! .-I: ihad 
hirafitavarl-esli;  he  wefutld  h&vfi'>b:eBn!iie^^  M  Jaurrest, 
and  looUldnoft  biv© latterflpt'ed'itoifeissafe^hate) iSeare- 

tarS^'SfeWatkJ.'^"""  '  '  '    ■''  "I''   /m-i"  "Jit;  aTsrl]  l»(ij; 

36^^ 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

Miss  Branson  was  detained  a  long  time.  When- 
ever you  hear  Paine  spoken  of  in  history  as  "Powell, 
the  son  of  a  Baptist  minister"  you  will  now  recog- 
nize where  the  information  came  from. 

The  following  from  the  New  York  "Tribune," 
April  29th,  1865,  describes  one  of  those  who  had 
knowledge  before  the  act.  He  had  been  intimate 
with  Paine,  and  undoubtedly  we  were  creeping  up 
too  dangerously  near  him.  The  suicide  was  buried 
in  Greenmount  Cemetery,  and  in  the  darkness  of 
night  we  dug  the  body  up  as  mentioned  by  the 
"Tribune."  This  was  the  only  time  I  ever  acted 
the  part  of  a  ghoul.  If  I  remember  right,  the  man 
was  a  builder  and  committed  suicide  out  behind 
a  barn  in  the  country : 

Suicide  m  Baltimore. 

"A  well  known  citizen  of  Baltimore  com- 
mitted suicide  last  Monday,  a  short  distance 
from  this  city,  by  shooting  himself  with  a  pis- 
tol. No  cause  could  be  assigned  for  the  rash 
act  except  that  he  had  recently  seemed  de- 
pressed and  melancholy.  Subsequent  events 
have  induced  the  suspicion  that  he  was  some- 
way implicated  in  the  conspiracy,  and  last 
night  the  body  was  exhumed,  embalmed,  and 
sent  to  Washington,  by  orders  of  the  Govern- 
ment. The  affair  causes  much  speculation, 
and  there  are  many  reports  in  connection  with 
310 


PAINE  IDENTIFIED 

it  as  well  as  some  facts  which  it  is  deemed  im- 
prudent to  publish  at  present." 

(New  York  Tribune,  April  29,  1865.) 

Paine  was  hanged,  along  with  Mrs.  Surratt,  He- 
rold  and  Atzerodt.  Considerable  silly  sentiment  was 
manufactured  in  Mrs.  Surratt's  case;  it  was  en- 
tirely wasted.  If  you  will  carefully  examine  her 
record  you  will  say  that  her  sex  should  not  excuse 
such  cold-blooded  villainy.  General  Wallace  was 
second  in  rank  on  the  commission  that  tried  the 
conspirators. 

When  President  Lincoln's  remains  were  lying  in 
state  in  the  rotunda  of  the  Exchange  in  Baltimore, 
I  remained  at  his  head  long  hours,  watching  the 
faces  of  the  people  passing.  Truly  they  were 
mourners,  not  the  idle,  curious,  nor  frivolous  of 
mankind. 

It  had  been  intimated  that  the  procession  of  peo- 
ple might  be  turned  into  a  mockery.  That  mock 
ceremonies  elsewhere  would  be  attempted  by  some 
relentless  furies.  But  even  the  suggestion  was  un- 
healthy. As  a  matter  of  history  one  of  the  earliest 
expressions  of  regret  came  from  the  Confederate 
prisoners  of  war  confined  at  Point  Lookout.  Was 
ever  man  more  universally  loved? 


311 


FILE   XLII. 

Richmond  had  fallen — Class  of  detective  work  entirely 
changed — Counterfeiters — Secretary  McCullogh — 
Go  to  steamboat  of  the  Leary  Line  and  capture 
a  youthful  murderer — Arrest  of  Mrs.  Beverly 
Tucker. 

Richmond  had  fallen,  Lee  had  surrendered  and 
the  end  was  near.  Disbandment  and  readjustment, 
to  a  civil  basis,  was  then  in  order.  Whatever  work 
T  did  after  this  was  of  that  character.  I  was  no 
longer  to  chase  my  dream  of  crippling  Mosby. 
Probably  he  did  not  know  I  lived.  He  might  have 
smiled  at  my  proposition,  but  I  enjoyed  the  dream 
nevertheless. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 
Office  Provost  Marshal, 
Baltimore,  May  13,  1865. 
Lieut.  H.  B.  Smith. 

Sir. — From  what  I  can  learn  there  are  sev- 
eral gangs  of  counterfeiters  of  United  States 
currency  in  this  city,  driving  a  good  trade.  I 
had  the  name  and  description  of  one  of  them 
but  have  lost  it. 

312 


RICHMOND  FALLEN 

I  now  find  that  a  certain  John  Mitchell 
(whom  I  know)  engaged  with  a  huxter  in 
Washington,  D.  C,  by  name  Henry  High, 
knows  all  the  particulars. 

Mitchell  will  not  come  to  this  city  as  he  is 
afraid  of  being  arrested,  upon  what  charge 
I  do  not  know. 

Yours, 

Wm.  L.  Hopkins. 


This  was  a  new  field  for  me  and  I  delved  into 
the  matter  with  success.  Counterfeit  money,  in 
slang,  is  called  "queer,"  and  those  who  pass  it  on 
the  public  are  called  "shovers."  Its  manufacturer 
never  "shoves"  it,  but  sells  it  in  quantities  to  small 
shop  keepers,  car  conductors,  and  others,  at  a  cer- 
tain percentage  of  its  face  value — 50  per  cent,  quite 
usually ;  the  percentage,  however,  depends  on 
whether  it  is  well  done  or  not. 

Ramsey,  at  No.  146  Sixth  Street,  below  Race 
Street,  Philadelphia,  was  a  medium.  It  was  repre- 
sented that  the  headquarters  of  the  product  was  at 
Mahanoy  City,  Pa.  I  bought  twenty-five  dollars, 
face  value,  in  twenty-five  cent  fractional  currency 
very  well  done. 

This  was  now  a  matter  to  be  submitted  to  the 
Treasury  Department,  which  I  accordingly  did, 
which  was  the  reason  for  the  following : 

313 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 

Office  Provost  Marshal, 

Baltimore,  June   15,   1865. 
Special  Order  No.  86. 

1st  Lieut.  H.  B.  Smith,  Assistant  Provost 
Marshal,  will  immediately  proceed  to  Wash- 
ington. D.  C,  for  the  purpose  of  conferring 
with  the  Hon.  H.  McCullogh,  Secretary  of 
the  Treasury. 

On  accomplishing  the  object  of  his  visit,  he 
will  immediately  report  to  these  headquarters. 
By  command  of  Major  General  Wallace. 
John  Woolley, 
Lt.  Col.  &  Pro.  Marshal. 

Lieut.  H.  B.  Smith, 

Asst.  Provost  Marshal. 


Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 

8th  Army  Corps. 

Office  Provost  Marshal, 

Baltimore,  May  25,  1865. 
12  P.  M. 
Lt.  H.  B.  Smith, 

Asst.  Provost  Marshal. 
You   will   proceed    to    the    Norfolk     Boat, 
"Lary   Line,"   foot  of   Frederick    Street,    to- 
morrow morning,  with  a  guard  of  one  officer 
and  twenty  men,  and  carry  out  the  instructions 

314 


CAPTURE  YOUTHFUL  MURDERER 

given  you  in  compliance  with   orders  of  the 
Hon.  Secretary  of  War. 

By  command  of  Major  General  Wallace. 
John  Woolley, 
Lt.  Col.  &  Pro.  Marshal. 

The  above  was  an  interesting  case.  The  party  to 
be  apprehended  was  a  young  officer,  described  as 
very  youthful  in  appearance,  who  had  shot  and  killed 
a  private  soldier  under  very  aggravating  circum- 
stances. He  ordered  the  soldier  to  do  a  menial 
service,  and  killed  him  for  refusing. 

The  steamboat  had  three  hundred  or  four  hun- 
dred passengers.  We  did  not  want  to  delay  inno- 
cent persons,  so  I  allowed  all  to  pass  ofiF  who  were 
of  age  sufficient  to  warrant  the  conclusion  that  they 
were  not  wanted.  Then  I  searched  the  boat  and 
found  a  mere  boy  who  appeared  to  be  not  over 
fourteen  year's  old ;  he  was  the  one  wanted.  He 
had  been  tried  and  convicted,  and  was  on  his  way 
to  jail  (I  think  the  Albany  penitentiary)  when  he 
escaped.  We  started  him  on  again  under  a  guard. 
When  in  the  Thirtieth  Street  station  of  the  Hudson 
River  Railroad,  in  New  York  City,  he  was  permitted 
to  go  into  a  water  closet  alone.  He  never  came  out 
the  door.  He  must  have  crawled  out  through  the 
window,  though  it  seemed  not  large  enough  to  per- 
mit even  a  boy's  egress.  The  guards  became  fright- 
ened and  deserted.     No  one  ever  heard  of  either 

315 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

prisoner  or  guards  so  far  as  I  know.     This  boy 
officer  was  certainly  living  a  charmed  life. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 

8th  Army  Corps. 

Office  Provost  Marshal, 

Baltimore,  May  25,  1865. 
Mrs.  Beverly  Tucker  will  be  arrested.  Seize 
and  search  her  baggage  for  papers,  and  also 
cause  strict  examination  to  be  made  to  dis- 
cover any  papers  concealed  on  her  person. 
Much  depends  on  your  diligence  and  skill  in 
executing  this  order. 

Watch  carefully  what  companions  she  has, 
if  any,  male  or  female,  and  cause  similar 
search  to  be  made  of  such  persons. 

By  command  of  Major  General  Wallace. 
John  Woolley, 
Lt.  Col.  &  Pro.  Marshal. 
To 
Lt.  H.  B.  Smith, 

Asst.  Provost  Marshal. 


316 


FILE    XLIII. 

Camp   Carroll   rioting — Troops  being  mustered  out. 

The  muster  out  of  troops  and  return  to  civil  life 
of  the  men  who  had  been  hardened  soldiers  was 
attended  with  difficulties.  The  men  often  began  to 
feel  liberty  while  yet  with  arms  in  their  hands,  and 
rioting,  the  efifect  of  too  much  "fire  water"  was  fre- 
quent. Camp  Carroll  was  a  muster  out  rendezvous 
in  the  western  end  of  Baltimore. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 

Baltimore,  June  6,  1865. 

Lieut.  Smith : 

I  have  sent  four  companies  of  infantry  and 
a  detachment  of  cavalry  to  report  at  Camp 
Carroll  at  once.  They  will  be  provided  with 
ammunition.  Find  Colonel  Johannes,  nth 
]\Id.  Infantry,  if  you  can,  and  direct  him  to 
take  command  of  all  reinforcements  and  en- 
force order  in  the  Camp  and  neighborhood ;  if 
Colonel  Johannes  is  not  there,  see  the  senior 
colonel  at  the  Camp  and  impart  the  order  to 
him. 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

Brigadier  General  Lockwood  has  been  or- 
dered to  proceed  to  Camp  Carroll  at  once  and 
take  command. 

Please  report  state  of  afifairs  from  time  to 
time. 

By  command  of  Major  General  Wallace. 
Sam'l  B.  Lawrence, 
A.  Adjutant  General. 


Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 

June  6,  1865. 
Lt.  Smith: 

Send  all  the  Cavalry  you  have  to  spare  at 
once  to  report  to  the  Commanding  Officer, 
nth  Md.  Infantry  at  Camp  Carroll.  Read 
the  order  I  have  written  to  him.  Keep  the 
three  orders  I  wrote  to  General  Lockwood 
and  C.  O.  Federal  Hill,  and  if  you  do  not 
need  them  to-night,  return  them  to  me  in  the 
morning.  Send  the  order  at  once  to  Com- 
manding Officer,  nth  Md. 

If  anything  serious  occurs  to-night  send  an 
orderly  to  me. 

Yours,  &c., 

Sam'l  B.  Lawrence, 

A.  Adjutant  General. 


318 


CAMP  CARROLL  RIOTING 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 

8th  Army  Corps. 

Provost  Marshal's  Office. 

Baltimore,  June  6,  1865. 

Colonel : 

I  have  the  honor  to  report  in  the  case  of 
the  disturbance  at  and  near  Camp  Carroll  this 
evening. 

I  proceeded  to  the  spot,  assisted  by  Capt. 
Jones  and  Lt.  Smyth  with  their  commands. 
I  arrested  some  forty  of  the  ring-leaders.  I 
then  proceeded  to  the  Camp  to  quiet  the  men. 

I  gave  the  Comdg.  Officer  of  the  nth  Md.  a 
verbal  order  to  place  his  men  on  guard  over 
all  of  the  troops  not  armed,  and  I  promised 
him  a  written  order  from  you,  placing  him 
properly  in  Command,  in  which  case  I  here- 
with return  you  the  orders  given  to  Mr.  Bab- 
cock. 

After  placing  a  guard  over  the  Camp  I  had 
the  country  about  patroled  and  all  ordered  in. 
Everything  is  now  quiet.  It  had  become  a 
very  serious  matter  and  I  felt  justified  in  plac- 
ing the  nth  Md.  on  duty.  Hoping  my  action 
in  this  case  will  meet  your  approval,  I  am. 
Very  respy.  your  obdt.  servt., 

H.  B.  Smith, 
Lt.  &  Asst.  Provost  Marshal. 

To 

Col.  Lawrence, 

A.  A.  G. 

319 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

Lieut.  Smith : 

Your  action  is  approved.  I  have  no  material 
present  to  write  the  order  for  Colonel  Jo- 
hannes, but  will  do  so  and  send  it  to  him. 

Let  me  know  where  the  Md.  Brigade  is,  and 
if  you  apprehend  danger  or  think  the  Brigade 
and  the  nth  Md.  will  fight  if  they  are  en- 
camped together,  let  me  know. 

I  send  you  the  orders  for  General  Lock- 
wood  and  Federal  Hill.  If  all  is  quiet,  and 
likely  to  remain  so,  retain  them,  but  if  there 
is  any  indication  of  further  trouble  send 
them  at  once. 

Please  let  me  know  where  the  Brigade  is.    I 
directed  it  to  be  encamped  at  Carroll,  and  can- 
not understand  why  it  is  not  there. 
Respectfully, 

Sam'l  B.  Lawrence, 
A.  Adjutant  General. 

If  the  Brigade  is  at  Carroll,  the  Command- 
ing Officer  should  be  directed  to  take  com- 
mand of  all  and  use  his  troops.  Let  me  know 
and  I  will  give  the  orders. 

The  whole  .cause  of  the  trouble,  and  rea- 
son why  I  know  so  little  about  i*:  is  that  they 
were  ordered  to  report  to  Colonel  Brown, 
A.  A.  P.  M.  Gen'l. 

I  remained  at  the  head  of  my  department  during 
all  of  1865,  and  saw  the  veteran  armies  disbanded. 
320 


TROOPS  BEING  MUSTERED  OUT 

It  seemed  strange  to  see  the  Confederates  (Mary- 
landers)  who  had  been  so  long  shooting  at  us, 
come  home  and  resume  their  occupations  at  the 
desk  or  plow  right  before  our  eyes. 

There  were  not  many  disturbances  like  the  Camp 
Carroll  riot.  America  may  well  be  proud  of  the 
peaceable  disbandment  of  the  two  great  armies. 
There  was  no  evidence  of  remaining  venom  between 
the  fighters.  Not  so,  however,  with  the  slimy  se- 
cret society  disturbers  who  brought  on  the  war,  and 
nursed  its  continuance.  Whenever  a  sneering,  vitri- 
olic sound  is  heard,  you  may  be  sure  that  it  ema- 
nates from  the  copperhead  element. 


321 


FILE    XLIV. 

Indicted  for  assault  with  intent  to  kill,  the  only  clash 
between  the  military  and  civil  authorities  during 
General   Wallace's   administration. 

June  25th,  1865,  the  Baltimore  papers  said : 
"Lieut.  Smith,  Wm.  Earle,  Kraft,  and  Babcock,  of 
Colonel  Woolley's  office,  were  indicted  for  assault 
with  intent  to  kill  one  Jacob  Ruppert." 

General  Wallace  had  always  encouraged  the  civil 
authorities,  so  that  the  establishment  of  martial  law 
might  be  as  little  burdensome  as  possible  on  the 
citizens.  In  this  instance  the  fact  of  the  military 
being  yet  in  control  was  overlooked.  This  Ruppert 
kept  a  low  saloon  on  "the  Causeway,"  one  of  the 
hardest  spots  in  Baltimore.  I  had  sent  for  him  to 
report  to  me.  He  scorned  the  invitation;  accord- 
ingly I  went  to  his  place.  He  blocked  the  doorway. 
I  ptilled  him  out,  a  scuffle  ensued  and  he  bled  some, 
but  came  away  with  me.  His  (Ruppert's)  father 
had  some  political  influence  from  being  able  to 
control  votes  on  "the  Causeway" ;  he  asked  for  an 
indictment.  A  warrant  was  issued  from  Judge 
H.  L.  Bond   (Judge  Bond  was  a  Union  man). 

Jake  Dukehardt,  a  deputy  sheriff,  met  me  on 
322 


INDICTED  FOR  ASSAULT 

Baltimore  Street,  and  informed  me  he  held  the 
warrant  for  my  arrest.  I  assured  him  it  would  be 
foolhardy  to  try  to  execute  it,  for  one  of  us  would 
certainly  be  injured.  I  recommended  him  to  report 
to  Judge  Bond,  and  I  assured  him  I  would  be  re- 
sponsible for  the  results. 

Judge  Bond  called  on  General  Wallace,  and  ex- 
plained how  impossible  it  was  to  withdraw  the 
order.  General  Wallace  advised  the  judge  to  use 
his  own  judgment,  but  telling  him,  at  the  same 
time :  "If  you  take  Smith,  I  will  place  Alexander's 
Battery  on  the  hill  opposite  the  jail  and  blow  it 
down."  This  was  the  only  clash  between  the  mili- 
tary and  civil  authorities  under  General  Wallace's 
administration. 


323 


FILE   XLV. 

Trip  to  Norfolk  and  Richmond — Ralph  Abercrombie- 
Miss  Elizabeth  L.  Van  Lew. 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 

Office  Provost  Marshal, 

Baltimore,  July  5,   1865. 
Special  Order  No.  93. 

IIL  Lieut.  H.  B.  Smith,  Assistant  Provost 
Marshal,  8th  Army  Corps,  will  proceed  to 
Norfolk,  Va.,  with  prisoners  Manuel  Desota 
and  Morris  Moran.  On  arrival  he  will  de- 
liver the  prisoners  to  the  Provost  Marshal  at 
Norfolk,  taking-  receipt  for  same.  This  duty 
performed,  Lt.  Smith  will  proceed  to  Rich- 
mond, Va.,  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  in- 
formation in  the  case  of  Ralph  Abercrombie, 
after  which  he  will  return  to  these  head- 
quarters without  delay. 

Quartermasters  will  furnish  necessary  trans- 
portation. 

By  command  of  Major  General  Wallace. 

John  Woolley, 
Lt.  Col.  &  Provost  Marshal. 

324 


RALPH   ABERCROMBIE 

The  above  starts  a  train  of  reminiscences.  Ralph 
Abercrombie,  it  was  alleged,  had  been  used  as  a 
spy  upon  our  men  confined  in  Libby  Prison.  He 
was  confined  with  them,  as  though  he  were  a  pris- 
oner also,  but  it  was  his  business  to  worm  out  the 
confidences  naturally  confided  to  fellow  prisoners, 
and  to  report  them  to  the  Confederate  authorities. 

One  of  the  purposes  of  my  visit  was  to  interview 
a  lady  residing  in  Richmond  who  was  a  staunch 
friend  of  the  Federal  government,  and  who  had 
encouraged  and  aided  our  soldiers  in  confinement  in 
Libby  prison  and  on  Belle  Island.  Her  name  was 
Miss  Elizabeth  L.  Van  Lew.  She  resided  in  a  fine 
mansion  on  an  eminence  overlooking  Richmond 
from  the  east. 

I  was  greatly  entertained  by  her  stories  of  her 
experiences ;  she  had  come  close  to  the  danger  line 
of  confiscation  of  her  property  and  her  personal  in- 
carceration. She  had  at  one  time  concealed  in  the 
cupola  of  her  house,  our  soldiers,  who  had  es- 
caped from  Libby  prison,  while  Confederate  officers 
were  being  entertained  in  her  parlors. 

I  desired  to  learn  if  she  recollected  anything  re- 
garding Abercrombie's  actions.  As  a  recognition 
of  Miss  Van  Lew's  loyalty.  President  Grant  made 
her  postmistress  of  Richmond  in  1869,  which  post 
she  filled  for  eight  years. 

A  few  years  after  the  war  I  gave  a  friend  a 
letter  of  introduction  to  her,   which   she  honored. 

325 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

I  was  much  pleased  to  be  remembered  by  such  a 
person.  How  such  a  kind  hearted  woman  must 
have  grieved,  with  a  view  constantly  present  from 
her  home,  of  our  suffering  soldiers  on  desolate 
Belle  Island! 

Abercrombie  was  formerly  a  lieutenant  in  the 
13th  U.  S.  Infantry.  He  resigned  in  1862  and  went 
into  the  Confederacy  through  the  blockade  from 
Nassau.  He  was  charged  with  having  been  the 
principal  witness  against  Captain  Dayton,  who  was 
executed  at  Castle  Thunder,  Richmond,  on  the 
charge  of  being  a  spy.  He  was  arrested  on  the 
i8th  of  April,  1865. 


326 


FILE   XLVI. 

My  muster  out — Reemployment  as  a  civilian — Ordered 
to  Philadelphia — Twice  ordered  to  Washington 
with  horse  thieves. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  my  release  from  duty 
to  be  mustered  out : 


Headquarters, 
Middle    Military    Department. 

Baltimore,  July  19th,  1865. 
Special  Order  No.  i. 

I.  Lieut.  H.  B.  Smith,  5th  N.  Y.  H.  Artil- 
lery, is  hereby  relieved  from  duty  as  Assistant 
Provost  Marshal,  8th  Army  Corps,  and  will 
rejoin  his  regiment  without  delay. 

By  command  of  Major  General  Hancock. 

Adam  E.  King, 
Asst.  Adjutant  General. 

Official. 

(Signed)      Geo.  H.  Hooker, 
Assistant  Adjutant  General. 

Lt.  H.  B.  Smith, 

5th  N.  Y.  H.  Artillery,  D.  Co. 

1^7 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 
8th  Army  Corps. 
Baltimore,  Md.,  July  20,  1865. 
Lieutenant  H.  B.  Smith,  5th  New  York  Ar- 
tillery, was  on  detached  service  as  Assistant 
to  the  Provost  Marshal,  Middle  Department, 
8th   Army   Corps,    at    Baltimore,    Maryland, 
during-  sixteen   (16)   months,   1864  and   1865, 
and  always  performed    his    duties    zealously, 
efficiently,  and  promptly. 

He  won  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the 
General  Commanding,  and  all  the  officers  of 
the  Staflf.  As  Lieut.  Smith  is  to  be  mustered 
out  of  service,  I  take  pleasure  in  thus  furnish- 
ing him  with  evidence  of  the  meritorious  serv- 
ice he  has  rendered,  and  my  belief  that  he  will 
be  equal  to  any  trust  that  may  be  reposed  on 
him,  and  entirely  worthy  the  confidence  of  all 
with  whom  he  may  be  associated  in  civil  life. 
Samuel  B.  Lawrence, 
Lieut.  Col.  &  A.  A.  G. 

On  August  1st,  1865,  I  was  appointed  as  a  civil- 
ian to  perform  the  same  duties: 

Military 

Headquarters,  Middle  Department, 

Office  Provost  Marshal. 

Baltimore,  August  31,  1865, 
Special  Order  No.  106. 

1st.    H.   B.  Smith,  Commanding  Detective 
Corps,    Middle    Military    Division,    will    pro- 
328 


MY  MUSTER  OUT 

ceed  to  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  for  the  purpose  of 
obtaining  information  regarding  a  certain 
commissioned  officer  of  the  U.  S.  Vet,  Res. 
Corps. 

On  completion  of  his  duty  he  will  report  at 
these  headquarters  without  delay. 

Quartermaster's  department  will  furnish 
transportation. 

By  command  of  Major  General  Humphreys. 

JoHxX   WOOLLEY, 

Lt.  Col.  &  Pro.  Mar.  General. 


Headquarters, 

Middle  Military  Department, 

Oflfice   Provost  Marshal  General, 

Baltimore,   Sept.  20,   1865. 
Special  Order  No.  116. 

Hnd.  H.  B.  Smith,  Chief  of  Detective 
Corps,  Middle  Military  Department,  and  one 
man  as  guard,  will  proceed  to  Washington, 
D.  C,  in  charge  of  the  following-named  horse 
thieves : 

Michael  Shea  and  H.  J.  Hoffman.  On  ar- 
rival he  will  deliver  .the  prisoners  with  accom- 
panying paper  to  Colonel  T.  Ingraham,  Pro- 
vost Marshal  General,  Defences  of  Potomac, 
receive  receipt  and  report  at  these  head- 
quarters without  delay. 

329 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

Quartermaster's    Department    will    furnish 
transportation. 

By  command  of  Major  General  Hancock. 
^  John  Woolley, 

Lt.  Col.  &  Pro.  Mar.  Gen'l. 

Horse  stealing  was  much  in  fashion  at  this  time. 

Headquarters, 

Middle  Military  Department, 

Office  Provost  Marshal  General, 

Baltimore,  Sept.  22,  1865. 
Special  Order  No.  117. 

H.  H.  B.  Smith,  Chief  of  Detective  Corps, 
Middle  Military  Department,  and  one  man  as 
guard,  will  proceed  to  Washington,  D.  C,  in 
charge  of  the  following  named  horse  thieves: 
Wm.  H.  Smith  and  R.  B.  Franklin,  alias 
Robert  Nelson.  On  arrival  he  will  deliver  the 
prisoners  with  accompanying  papers  to  Capt. 
Geo.  B.  Russell,  Acting  Provost  Marshal  Gen- 
eral, Defences  North  of  Potomac,  receive  re- 
ceipt for  same  and  report  at  these  head- 
quarters without  delay. 

Quartermaster's    Department    will    furnish 
transportation. 

By  command  of  Major  General  Hancock. 
John  Woolley, 
Lt.  Col.  &  Provost  Marshal  General. 


330 


FILE    XLVII. 

Captain  Beckwith  convicted — Gambling — Order  to  take 
Beckwith  to  Albany  penitentiary. 

Along  about  August  and  September,  1865,  the 
Government  ordered  surveillance  of  all  gambling 
houses,  to  discover  if  disbursing  oiBcers  were  gam- 
bling. This  was  my  first  experience  in  the  art.  It 
was  a  free  school,  for  the  tuition  was  on  Uncle 
Sam.  The  lessons  have  served  me  all  my  life,  and 
I  have  never  wanted  to  go  to  that  school  since. 

We  appropriated  from  five  to  ten  dollars  an  even- 
ing, to  be  spent  in  each  house  visited,  depending 
on  its  standing.  That  gave  us  entry  and  made  us 
welcome  so  that  we  could  spend  the  evening.  I 
gambled  and  observed,  along  with  Captain  Beck- 
with. I  saw  him  win,  and  also  saw  him  lose ;  lose 
far  more  than  he  could  afford  to.  That  was  his 
undoing.  Powerful  interests  were  extended  in  his 
behalf  and  he  was  pardoned.  Now  read  the  two 
documents  following : 

War  Department, 
Adjutant  General's  Office. 
Washington,  October  19,  1865. 
General  Court  Martial. 
Orders  No.  584. 
The    action   of    Major    General    Hancock, 

331 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

Commanding  the  Middle  Department,  desig- 
nating the  Penitentiary  at  Albany,  New  York, 
as  the  place  of  confinement  in  the  case  of 
Captain  D.  L.  Beckwith,  22d  Regiment  Vet. 
Reserve  Corps,  Assistant  Commissary  of 
Musters,  sentenced  by  a  General  Court  Mar- 
tial "to  forfeit  all  pay  that  is  now  or  may  be- 
come due  him  to  the  date  of  promulgation  of 
this  sentence ;  to  be  cashiered  and  to  be  for- 
ever disqualified  from  holding  any  office  of 
trust  or  emolument  in  the  service  of  the  Uni- 
ted States,  and  to  be  confined  for  two  years 
without  pay,  at  hard  labor  at  such  penitentiary 
or  Military  Post  as  the  Commanding  General 
of  this  Department  may  direct. 

This  sentence  to  be  published  as  presented 
by  the  85th  Article  of  War,  as  promulgated  in 
General  Orders  No.  23,  dated  Headquarters 
Middle  Military  Department,  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  Oct.  10,  1865.  Is  approved.  By 
order  of  the  Secretary  of  War. 

E.    D.    ToWNSEND, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General. 
Oflficial. 

E.    D.    TOV^NSEND, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General. 


332 


CAPT.  BECKWITH  CONVICTED 

Headquarters, 
Middle  Military  Department, 
Office  Provost  Marshal  General, 
Baltimore,  Oct.  29,  1865. 
Special  Order  No.  127. 

I.  Special  Officer,  H.  B.  Smith,  with  one 
guard  will  proceed  to  Albany,  New  York,  in 
(Charge  of  prisoner  D.  L.  Beckwith.  On  ar- 
riving at  Albany  he  will  deliver  the  prisoner 
with  accompanying  papers  to  Amos  Pillsbury, 
Superintendent  of  the  Albany  Penitentiary ; 
receiving  receipt  he  will  report  with  the  guard 
at  these  headquarters  without  delay. 

Quartermaster's  Department  will  furnish 
transportation. 

By  command  of  Major  General  Humphreys. 

John  Woolley, 
Bvt.  Brigadier  General  &  Provost  Marshal. 

The  "one  guard"  detailed  x  accompany  me  was 
General  Woolley.  He  wanted  a  little  rest  and  availed 
himself  of  this  opportunity.  Upon  our  arrival  in 
Albany  I  hunted  up  my  cousin,  Edgar  Jerome,  who 
spent  the  evening  with  us  at  the  Delevan  House. 
We  had  a  delightful  evening  listening  to  the  Gen- 
eral's stories.  He  was  a  charming  story  teller.  Ed 
will  remember  especially  his  rendering  of  "The  Ar- 
kansas Traveller." 

Now,  Nettie,  don't  find  fault  with  your  history 
because  your  Uncle  is  not  mentioned  in  its  lines. 

333 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

In  the  histories  of  great  events,  such  as  our  Civil 
War,  it  is  an  honor  to  be,  even  though  hidden, 
"between  the  Hnes."  Thousands  who  are  men- 
tioned in  written  history  to-day  will  not  be  there 
when  it  becomes  more  ancient.  Later  on,  when 
other  great  events  crowd,  only  three  names  may 
remain  :  Lincoln,  Grant,  Lee.  Perhaps  still  fur- 
ther on,  only  Lincoln,  the  martyr  for  liberty's  sake, 
may  be  found. 

Much  of  my  work  was  between  the  lines  of  the 
two  contestants,  a  more  dangerous  place  than  in 
the  lines,  for  I  was  exposed  to  the  bullets  and 
sabres  of  both  Southern  and  Northern  Armies. 


334 


FILE   XLVIII. 

Trip  to  Carlisle,  Illinois,  to  unravel  a  fraudulent  claim 
— John  H.  Ing. 

We  closed  our  headquarters  in  December,  1865, 
packing  all  records  in  finely  arranged  cabinets, 
which  were  then  transferred  to  the  War  Depart- 
ment in  Washington. 

When  my  relation  with  the  government  was 
terminated,  through  the  instrumentality  of  General 
Woolley  (Woolley  had  recently  been  brevetted),  I 
was  engaged  by  Mr.  Archibald  Sterling,  an  attor- 
ney (a  prominent  Union  man),  to  go  to  southern 
Illinois  to  ravel  out  a  contested  will  case.  The 
contestants  were  a  group  of  neighbors,  headed  by 
a  shrewd  woman. 

If  I  remember  right,  under  the  Maryland  laws, 
if  a  child  died  before  maturity,  there  was  no  inheri- 
tance. Mr.  Sterling  claimed  that  the  young  man 
was  not  of  age  when  he  died,  and  that  he  died  in 
1835;  but  he  had  no  evidence  to  prove  it.  He  had 
only  a  death  notice  clipped  from  some  paper  with 
no  date  on  it.  But  he  had  an  anonymous  letter 
signed:  "Veritas,"  postmarked  at  Carlisle,  Illi- 
nois, in  which  the  writer,  for  a  consideration,  of- 

335 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

fered  to  put  Sterling  in  possession  of  evidence  that 
would  defeat  the  claim  ;  this  letter  was  a  few  months 
old.  Mr.  Sterling  could  not  comply.  He  could  pay 
for  no  evidence  without  compromising  his  clients. 
With  these  facts  only  and  equipped  with  the  fol- 
lowing letter  of  introduction,  I  started  West : 

Headquarters, 

Middle  Military  Department, 

Office  Provost  Marshal  General, 

Baltimore,  Dec.  27,  1865. 
Capt.  Silas  F.  Miller, 
Burnet  House, 

Cincinnati,  Ohio. 
My  Dear  Sir. — I  shall  be  greatly  obliged  if 
you  will  make  Lieut.  Smith,  the  bearer,  ac- 
quainted with  one  or  more  of  the  conductors 
of  the  O.  &  M.  R.  R.  Co. 

Lieut.  Smith  is  one  of  my  officers,  and 
comes  west  on  business  which  takes  him  on 
the  line  of  that  road. 

This  is  not  for  the  purpose  of  securing  a 
pass,  but  in  order  to  get  inforrhation.  I  have 
the  honor  to  be. 

Very  Respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

John  Woolley, 
Bvt.  Brigadier  General  U.  S.  Vols. 
Provost  Marshal  General  M.  M.  D. 

The  field  was  entirely  new  to  me.     All  the  way 
to  Cincinnati  and  the  rest  of  the  way  to  Carlisle, 


NEARLY  TOO  MUCH  "MUM" 

Illinois,  I  put  in  much  of  my  time  in  speculating  as 
to  the  best  course  to  adopt  on  landing  in  a  small 
town,  among  a  lot  of  villagers,  who  were  banded 
together  in  this  scheme.  My  name  was  to  be  Com- 
ings, and  I  came  from  New  York ;  that  was  all 
settled  in  my  mind ;  but  what  was  my  business 
there  ?  I  expected  to  be  there  a  few  days,  and  there 
was  the  rub ;  finally,  after  failing  to  fix  up  a  story 
I  concluded  to  "keep  mum,"  entirely.  Later  you 
will  see  the  fix  which  that  conclusion  came  near 
leading  me  into. 

I  arrived  there  at  night.  I  asked  the  landlord  not 
to  put  me  high  up  in  the  hotel,  and  he  didn't ;  I 
learned  the  next  morning  that  the  hotel  was  only 
two  stories  high.  I  lounged  about  the  tavern  and 
the  village  two  or  three  days,  making  myself  aware 
of  the  surroundings.  I  tramped  out  to  the  fork  of 
the  Kaskaskia  river,  where  the  afifidavits  alleged 
the  boy  was  buried  in  1836.  The  river  was  a  muddy 
little  brook.  No  grave  was  to  be  found,  but  some 
little  distance  away  was  a  burying  ground.  I  went 
there  searching  for  the  grave.  I  found  it  not,  but 
lying  up  against  a  fence  was  a  headstone  having 
the  boy's  name  on  it,  and  the  date  of  his  death. 

In  walking  about  the  village  I  had  many  times 
passed  the  residence  of  the  woman  who  had 
framed  up  the  claim ;  she  had  noticed  me.  I  wrote 
one  of  my  old  officers  in  Baltimore  to  wire  me,  in 
language  about  like  this: 

337 


BETWEEN    THE    LINES 

"See  Mrs.  ,  confer  fully  and  write 

me." 

I  instructed  him  to  sign  John  H.  Ing's  name  to 
it.     Mr.  Ing  was  this  woman's  attorney. 

Equipped  with  this  telegram  I  would  be  pre- 
pared to  introduce  myself  to  the  woman  as  ap- 
parently having  come  there  in  the  interest  of  Mr. 
Ing,  her  attorney,  to  look  over  the  ground  to  see 
if  matters  alleged  in  the  affidavits  were  susceptible 
of  demonstration. 

While  waiting  for  the  telegram  I  obtained  the 
confidence  of  the  postmaster.  I  impressed  him 
that  I  was  an  agent  of  the  Post  Office  Department, 
seeking  to  learn  if  he  remembered  a  letter  com- 
ing to  his  office  addressed  to  "Veritas"  (Sterling 
had  replied  to  Veritas)  ;  he,  having  the  too  fre- 
quent curiosity  of  a  village  postmaster,  said  he  re- 
membered it  well,  and  told  me  who  the  recipient 
was,  and  where  he  lived.  He  promised  to  keep 
secret  my  mission,  and  he  did. 

Mr.  Truesdale,  the  proprietor  of  the  tavern,  kept 
horses,  and  I  hired  him  to  carry  me  to  this  man's 
house,  quite  a  drive  of  three  or  four  miles.  On  our 
way  I  found  it  desirable  to  seek  his  confidence  too, 
and  impress  him  I  was  an  agent  of  the  Post  Office 
Department,  etc.  Mr.  Truesdale  seemed  much  re- 
lieved. He  then  told  me  he  was  so  glad  to  know 
my  true  character.  Being  the  only  "unaccounte  1 
for"  man  in  the  village,  I  had  been  the  object  ol 

338 


NEARLY  TOO  MUCH  "MUM" 

suspicion,  which,  unrelieved,  might  have  proven 
uncomfortable. 

Carlisle  was  on  the  edge  of  the  prairie.  Live 
stock  (marked)  ran  wild,  until  taken  in;  much  had 
been  stolen.  A  vigilance  committee  had  been  or- 
ganized to  punish  the  thieves.  These  people  were 
aboQt  to  conclude  that  the  only  "unaccounted  for" 
man  about  was  the  "look  out"  for  the  thieves. 
Truesdale  was  wonderfully  pleased  to  stand  spon- 
sor for  me  to  them,  without  divulging  my  mission. 
Keeping  perfectly  mum  came  close  to  being  poor 
.  judgment  under  these  circumstances. 

I  saw  Mr.  "Veritas"  and  had  a  private  talk  with 
him.  He  promised  to  meet  me  in  Carlisle  the  next 
day,  which  he  did.  Before  communicating  the  in- 
formation which  he  said  he  had,  which  com- 
prised the  name  of  the  storekeeper  who  sold  the 
material  used  for  preparing  the  coffin  in  1836,  and 
who  had  books  to  sustain  the  statement,  he  de- 
manded a  promise  in  writing  to  pay  him  a  large  sum 
of  money.  Having  a  smattering  of  "legal  lore"  I 
drew  up  a  bond  to  pay  the  required  amount,  in 
event  of  success.  I  kept  a  copy  of  the  bond  to 
show  Mr.  Sterling.  It  was  signed  by  "George 
Comings."  It  was  satisfactory  to  Mr.  "Veritas," 
and  he  in  an  impressive  manner  wrote  on  a  piece 
of  paper,  in  large  bold  letters,  the  storekeeper's 
name:  parmenus  bond.  We  agreed  to  drive  over 
to.  Mr.  Parmenus  Bond's  place  the  next  day,  and 
we  did.  339 


BETWEEN    THE   LINES 

I  found  Parmenus  to  be  very  old,  over  eighty. 
He  confirmed  the  statement  after  he  learned  Mr. 
"Veritas's"  greed  had  been  satisfied.  (I  guess  he 
was  to  divide  with  the  old  gentleman,  in  fact.) 

Having  disposed  of  this  part  I  was  ready  to 
use  the  telegram  I  had  received,  meantime,  upon 
the  woman  schemer.  I  called  upon  her,  presenting 
my  telegram  from  Ing,  She  was  charmed  to  meet 
me,  saying  she  had  observed  my  presence  about 
the  village.  I  told  her  I  had  surveyed  the  ground 
pretty  well.  I  asked  her  about  the  tombstone, 
where  did  she  get  it?  She  said  she  got  it  from 
Harrisburg,  Pa.  (about  one  thousand  miles  away), 
and  would  have  it  set  up  in  the  spring.  I  ad- 
vised her  that  I  concluded  the  evidence  was  pre- 
sentable, provided  her  witnesses  all  stayed  in  line. 
She  assured  me  that  they  would,  as  they  all  had  a 
money  interest  in  it,  in  the  event  of  success.  We 
then  parted,  and  it  did  not  take  me  long  to  get  out 
of  town.    I  went  to  St.  Louis,  thence  to  Baltimore. 

When  I  arrived  in  Baltimore,  I  at  once  called 
on  Mr.  Sterling,  but  had  to  introduce  myself,  I 
was  so  unkempt,  and  my  apparel  so  dirty.  He  was 
anxious  to  know  my  report;  I  told  him  I  had  the 
evidence  but  had  to  agree  to  pay  for  it.  His  face 
was  a  sight.  He  concluded  I  had  ruined  his  case. 
I  handed  him  the  copy  of  my  bond,  "George  Com- 
ings's"  bond,  assuring  him  that  "Veritas"  would 
have  a  difficult  time  finding  the  bondsman ;  that  he 

340 


ING.  A  BITER,  BIT 

would  not  want  to  find  him  until  after  success,  that 
he  would  not  speak  of  it  in  Carlisle,  for  his  life. 
Mr.  Sterling  then  laughed  heartily.  I  made  a  full 
report,  advised  Mr.  Sterling  to  call  in  Mr.  Ing 
confidentially,  and  show  him  his  fix.  The  claim 
was  withdrawn,  and  "George  Comings"  was  never 
called  upon  to  settle. 

The  use  by  me  of  Colonel  John  H.  Ing's  name 
was  not  unwarranted.  I  had  previously  had  a  "run 
in"  with  him,  which  led  me  to  believe  that  he  was 
a  criminal  party  in  this  scheme.  At  one  time  he 
was  deprived  of  the  right  to  practice  before  military 
tribunals  in  our  Department,  because  of  unprofes- 
sional actions.  He  appealed  to  General  Wallace, 
who  referred  the  matter  to  me  to  make  an  exami- 
nation. Pending  the  examination  a  lunch  was 
given  at  which  Ing  and  I  were  present.  I  presume 
the  lunch  was  to  give  Ing  a  chance  to  reach  me. 

He  tried  to,  but  the  lunch  did  not  answer  its  pur- 
pose. Upon  my  report  he  was  practically  disbarred 
from  practice  in  military  courts,  based  upon  the 
evidence  obtained.  Therefore  when  I  met  his  name 
in  connection  with  this  case  I  felt  warranted  in 
assuming  he  was  the  "promoter"  of  it.  The  use 
of  his  name  was  not  forgery.  He  was  deprived 
by  it  of  nothing  except,  perhaps,  an  "unearned  in- 
crement." 


341 


FILE    XLIX. 

Brevetted  major — Governor  Fenton's  Letter. 

State  of  New  York, 
Executive  Department, 
Albany,  8th  May,  1867. 
Bvt.  Major  H.  B.  Smith. 

Dear  Sir. — I  have  the  honor  to  transmit 
herewith  a  Brevet  Commission,  conferred  by 
the  President  in  recognition  of  your  faithful 
and  disinterested  services  in  the  late  war. 

In  behalf  of  the  State  allow  me  to  thank 
you  for  the  gallantry  and  devotion  which  in- 
duced this  conspicuous  mention  by  the  general 
government.  I  feel  a  lively  solicitude  in  all 
that  relates  to  the  honor  and  prosperity  of  the 
Soldiers  of  the  Union  Army,  and  especially 
those  from  our  own  State,  who  advanced  its 
renown  while  defending  the  cause  of  our  com- 
mon country. 

Very  respectfully, 

R.  E.  Fenton. 

I  believe  there  should  be  no  continued  ill  feeling 
towards  those  who  conscientiously  bore  arms 
against  us.     Nor  towards  their  official  spies.     Nor 

342 


BREVETTED  MAJOR 

towards  persons  who  by  reason  of  blood  relation- 
ship or  former  close  affiliations  aided  them.  But 
towards  those,  who  for  personal  profit  aided  them, 
and  who  sought  to  hamper  us  in  our  efforts  to 
preserve  the  Union,  we  cannot  cease  to  have  con- 
tempt. 

It  is  held  that  "everything  is  fair  in  war."  If  so, 
then  the  deceptions  used  in  the  secret  service  were 
fair.  But  the  moral  effect  on  the  one  who  pursues 
such  service  is  not  pleasant.  Such  persons  be- 
come so  used  to  being  impressed  with  possible  dis- 
honesty as  to  doubt  mankind  generally.  I  had  to 
fight  to  overcome  that  tendency.  It  is  a  much 
happier  condition  of  mind  to  be  freer  of  suspicion. 
"No  thing  is  stronger  than  it  is  in  its  weakest 
point"  is  an  axiom.  Almost  every  person  has  a 
weak  point,  which  a  detective  seeks  to  find. 

General  Wallace's  references  to  me  were  made 
after  a  period  of  forty  years,  during  which  time 
he  had  met  me  but  twice.  It  was  gratifying,  greatly 
so,  and  I  am  perfectly  willing  to  confess  that  I  had 
"zeal,"  but  prefer  to  let  his  opinion  of  my  "abil- 
ity" be  passed  upon  by  others. 

I  hope  I  have  not  injured  the  stories  in  their 
telling,  but  I  am  very  afraid  I  have  wearied  you 
all. 

New  York,  April,  191 1. 

Semi-Centennial  of  the  Civil  War. 

343 


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